BMW investing $1.7 billion to expand S.C. manufacturing capacity and footprint

10/22: The BMW Group continues the roll-out of its electro mobility plan with a new investment to expand Plant Spartanburg and the company’s manufacturing footprint in South Carolina. BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Zipse, announced the  $1.7 billion investment in its United States operations, including $1 billion to prepare for the production of electric vehicles at Plant Spartanburg, and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff, S.C.

With a commitment to strengthening its regional supply chain, the BMW Group aims to purchase battery cells for its electric vehicles where production takes place. Zipse also announced that BMW has partnered with Envision AESC, which will build a new battery cell factory in South Carolina, to supply the Plant Spartanburg.  Envision will produce BMW’s newly developed sixth generation round lithium-ion battery cells, which were specifically designed for the next generation Neue Klasse electric vehicles.
The new battery format will increase energy density by more than 20%, improve charging speed by up to 30% and enhance range by up to 30%. At the same time, the use of secondary material for raw materials – including lithium, cobalt and nickel, as well as renewable energy for production – CO2 emissions from cell production will be reduced by up to 60%. 

The new high-voltage battery assembly facility in Woodruff near Plant Spartanburg will create 300 new jobs, encompass over one million square feet and produce next generation batteries for fully electric vehicles.

© Photos: BMW Group