by BMW car exports from the USA reach record levels
The German automaker BMW has once again drawn attention, as its production facilities in the United States in 2025 once again led the list of the country’s largest automotive exporters by value. This data is provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Key facts:
Scale of production and export
The majority of cars for export come from the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. From 2014 to 2025, 3 million cars with a total value of 113 billion dollars were shipped abroad from this plant. In 2025 alone, 200 thousand cars worth 9 billion dollars were exported.
These successes confirm the viability of BMW Group’s investments, which has invested about 16 billion dollars in its operations in South Carolina. Moreover, over 52% of BMW cars sold in the USA also originate from the Spartanburg plant.
Plant capacity and its role
The Spartanburg plant, focused on the production of SUVs and crossovers, produced 412,799 X Series models in 2025. This is the third-largest result in the plant’s over 30-year history and the seventh time production has exceeded the 400,000-unit mark, although the plant’s capacity is designed for 450,000 cars per year.
Position on free trade
Amid global discussions on tariffs and trade wars, BMW management emphasized the importance of open markets for its success. Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Production, stated:
Free trade and open markets ensure growth and prosperity. Our plants – and, above all, strong supplier networks in each region – benefit from this.
Currently, the BMW plant in South Carolina provides over 12,000 jobs and assembles over 1,500 cars daily, making it the largest production site of the BMW Group worldwide. It has been operating since 1994 and has two paint shops, a press shop, two separate assembly halls, and three body shops.
Global role and presence in the USA
The Spartanburg plant is the global hub for the production of the brand’s so-called “Sports Activity Vehicles” (SAV) and an integral part of its global production network. Its contribution helps meet the growing demand for these models in the USA. Furthermore, BMW Group’s business in the United States includes about 30 additional locations in 12 states, among them Designworks, BMW Group Financial Services, BMW i Ventures, and BMW Technology Office USA, which are involved in design, financial services, venture investments, and technological development.
The success of the German manufacturer in America demonstrates how global companies can effectively integrate into the local economy, creating jobs and becoming a key exporter. This example also points to the complex interdependence between international trade and local production, where open markets foster investment and development. BMW’s experience in the USA can serve as a model for other automakers seeking to combine global ambitions with deep localization.
