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BMW announces $600M expansion at S.C. plant

A worker fits the BMW sign at a car in the new BMW plant in Leipzig, eastern Germany in a file photo from May 13, 2005. (ECKEHARD SCHULZ / Associated Press)

GREER, S.C. – BMW plans to invest an additional $600 million in its South Carolina plant and create 1,000 more jobs over the next four years.

CEO Harald Krueger’s announcement Monday coincides with the German automaker celebrating 25 years of manufacturing in Spartanburg County. The company also unveiled its newest BMW X3 sports-utility vehicle, which is built in Greer.

Krueger said the expansion will boost the workforce there to more than 10,000 people.

The company said the South Carolina plant is its largest worldwide. About 70 percent of BMWs made there are exported.

Gov. Henry McMaster said BMW essentially “put South Carolina on the map” with its decision to locate here.

According to the state Commerce Department, South Carolina is home to nearly 400 companies in the vehicle-manufacturing industry, employing 66,000 people.