Staff Report
Published Feb. 1, 2013

All three light truck models manufactured at BMW’s Spartanburg County plant turned in strong performances to pace the automaker’s U.S. sales report for January.

U.S. sales of BMW light trucks — the X3, X5 and X6 — climbed 41.3% last month to 6,469 units compared with 4,579 units sold in January 2012.

Sales of vehicles manufactured at BMW’s Spartanburg County facility all posted gains in January. (File photo/BMW)

Overall, U.S. sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 0.7% in January for a total of 16,513 vehicles compared with 16,405 vehicles sold in January 2012.

The X5 was the S.C.-plant’s best performer for the month, racking up a 56.5% increase in sales to 4,084 units compared with 2,610 in January 2012.

Only the 3 Series model outsold the X5 in January. BMW said it sold 4,831 3 Series last month in the United States, a 27.9% decrease from January 2012’s sales total of 6,698 units.

The S.C.-built X3 was BMW’s third best-seller for the month with 2,005 units, an 18.9% increase over January 2012’s sales of 1,687 units. The X3 has been on sale in the United States for two years.

Sales of the X6 rose 34.8% in January to 380 vehicles compared with 282 units for the same month in 2012.

“After a historic December, January produced a good result showing our growth continuing,” said Ludwig Willisch, president and CEO of BMW North America. “In 2013 we’ll have more new models, the right mix and better availability, so I’m very positive about the 11 months still ahead.”

Last year, BMW produced 301,519 vehicles in South Carolina, a 9% increase compared with the production volume in 2011 of 276,065 vehicles.

The South Carolina plant is now BMW’s No. 2 facility in terms of volume.

The company is in the midst of a $900 million project to expand the plant’s manufacturing footprint by 1.6 million square feet, add another vehicle model and increase the plant’s overall annual volume to 350,000 units.

In addition to the X3 and X5 sports activity vehicles and the X6 sports activity coupe, the factory is preparing to add the new BMW X4 to its current vehicle lineup.

The plant produces more than 1,000 vehicles per day and exports 70% of its production through the Port of Charleston to more than 130 global markets.

Previous coverage

BMW vehicle production up 9% in 2012