Next generation BMW X3 to be made in the USA
First it was the BMW X5, next the BMW X3! What am I talking about? A shift in production base of course, to the US - the homeland of all SUV and truck-lovers! The E83 BMW X3 which was recently facelifted (shown above) is currently built in Austria by Magna Steyr, however the next generation full model change will have it’s production base shifted to BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
BMW’s Spartanburg plant currently assembles the new 2007 E70 BMW X5 which I drove recently, and it will also assemble the new BMW X6 coupe-SUV crossover once it makes it to the production lines. One non-SUV model that also comes from the South Carolina plant is the BMW Z4 roadster.
BMW currently builds 105,000 vehicles a year at Spartanburg based on 2006’s production data, but it needs to bump up production to 200,000 in two to three year’s time to keep up with currency fluctuations. 31,291 units of the current generation BMW X3 was sold in the US in 2006, out of a total of 114,000 units worldwide.
May 17, 2007 @ 10:55 am
kewl..but we will never afford to buy this car…*sigh*
May 17, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Can i test it ?? I so lucky have a chance to drive a recond japan spec X5 … really extream shock man !!! sit inside the steering adjust to u …. when start the engine to step the pedal … the V8 vanos sound …. wow ….!! shock … when can i affort to buy this ??? …. dream la … if in malaysia …..