Production at Spartanburg Plant Expands Commitment

German automaker, BMW, has officially opened its very first press shop in the United States at its plant located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Announced on Friday June 21, this new press shop is set to manufacture exterior parts for its X3 model.

According to BMW, this North American press shop will produce the exterior shell of the celebrated X3, which includes the body sides, side panels, doors, and tailgate. The production will make use of either steel or aluminium coils.

In the words of Milan Nedeljković, a board member at BMW AG responsible for production, “After 30 years of successful production, we are further expanding our commitment. In late 2026, production of fully-electric Sports Activity Vehicles will get underway here in Spartanburg – a further step toward strengthening our global resilience.”

‘Local for Local’ Strategy Shows Promising Signs

Robert Engelhorn, the president and CEO of BMW manufacturing, explained that having an on-site press shop aligns perfectly with their ‘local for local’ strategy. This strategy aims to produce significant parts at the very location where they will be needed.

The Spartanburg plant also introduced a closed-loop material cycle for the scrap metal produced from the press shop. An estimated 60 short tons (approximately 54.4 tonnes) of scrap accumulate daily, and is taken off-site for recycling and reuse. The recycled material will be used to manufacture new steel and aluminium coils.

Building the EV Future

Back in 2022, BMW had declared its decision to expand its US operation in South Carolina for the production of electric vehicles (EVs). With the new press shop ready, the Spartanburg plant is estimated to produce six fully electric models by 2030. The high-voltage batteries for these EVs will be supplied by BMW’s nearby battery-assembly plant in Woodruff, South Carolina.

The company broke ground for the Woodruff plant in June 2023 and are expected to produce state-of-the-art sixth-generation batteries. This plant is seen as an integral part in BMW’s bid for an electric future in the US.

Recognising a Tight Market for Aluminium Scrap

Reports collected from US market participants indicate an increasing tightness in the availability of aluminium scrap, which has inadvertently boosted the premium on refined aluminium. As a response to this trend, consumers have turned their attention towards more refined metal to meet their needs.

As one of the company’s best-selling vehicles, over 1.7 million BMW X3s have been produced at the Spartanburg plant since the model’s launch in 2010. Punctuating its importance, the plant, currently one of the largest in the world, spans 750,000-square-meter and includes three body shops, two paint shops, and two assembly halls, producing more than 1,500 vehicles per day.