2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Begins Production in Spartanburg, SC on August 1.
24.07.2019 X3
Battery assembly for the BMW X5 xDrive45e, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg. Production of the new plug-in hybrid electric Sports Activity Vehicle begins in Spartanburg, South Carolina on August 1, 2019.
Spartanburg, SC – July 24 2019… BMW Group Plant Spartanburg has more than doubled its capacity for battery assembly prior to the debuts of the plug-in hybrid electric variants of two of its most popular models. The new, higher performing, fourth-generation batteries will be assembled on-site for the BMW X5 and BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric variants. The 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e Sports Activity Vehicle will begin production in Spartanburg, SC, on August 1. Production of the BMW X3 xDrive30e will begin in December.
With the expansion of the battery facility at Plant Spartanburg in the U.S., BMW has invested approximately $10 million. All to install a new battery assembly line and expanded the area to 86,000 sq ft.
In addition, BMW Group has invested another $10 million USD to support the production of the new PHEV models.
This means BMW can now double the number of batteries produced if needed to meet market demand. These comments came from Michael Nikolaides, senior vice president engines and electrified drivetrains, BMW Group.
More than 120 employees were specially trained. Trained to work the new line. All 120 completed an extensive program in battery production, robotics and electrical inline quality inspection. Finally and along with end-of-line testing. An additional 225 vehicle assembly workers received training in the production of electrified vehicles. Thereby adding to the Plant’s already skilled staff.
Batteries have been assembled batteries on site at Plant Spartanburg since 2015. Thereby making BMW Group a pioneer of electromobility in the U.S. This came from Knuld Flor, president and CEO, BMW Manufacturing, Co, LLC.
From 2015 – 2018, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg produced the X5 xDrive40e.
The X5 xDrive40e is the first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand. All totaled, the plant’s battery assembly team assembled more than 45,000 batteries during this four-year period.
BMW Group Plant Spartanburg is the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes. It produces BMW X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 models and their variants. Since starting production 25 years ago, the plant has built more than 4.6 million BMW vehicles for the U.S. market and the world. In 2018, data from the U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed that BMW Manufacturing was the largest automotive exporter by value for the fifth consecutive year.
Source: BMW
