SC company tops list as largest auto exporter

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Spartanburg’s BMW Manufacturing has topped the list of highest export value for all U.S. auto manufacturers for the eighth year in a row, according to data from the U.S. Commerce Department.

During 2021, Plant Spartanburg exported 257,876 vehicles with a total export value of $10.1 billion to 120 countries — primarily through the Port of Charleston and by rail to Canada.

China receives the largest percentage of finished vehicles at 24.1%, followed by Germany at 12.3%, South Korea at 9.4%, Canada at 5.6% and Great Britain at 5.4% of the export value.

“Free trade and open markets are essential for global businesses and economies to grow,” Milan Nedelijovic, a member of the management board responsible for production at BMW AG, said in a news release. “Plant Spartanburg contributes greatly to the success of the BMW Group. They are the center of competence for our X family of vehicles. They have world-class people who build world-class products.”

Out of the 433,810 BMW X vehicles built in Spartanburg last year, 179,840 were sold in the United States — 53.4% of all BMW brand sales. The BMW X3 and X5 were the most popular domestically.

“Claiming the top spot for U.S. automobile exports by value rounds out a very successful year for Plant Spartanburg,” Robert Englhorn, Plant Spartanburg’s new president and CEO, said in the release. “I’m incredibly proud of our associates and the resilience they have shown the past year. This achievement demonstrates BMW’s trusted partnership with this state and its continued commitment to the United States.