The largest US auto exporter is again not an American brand. BMW has occupied this special position for years thanks to its factory near Spartanburg and that was no different in 2020.
This title is not about hard numbers of cars, but about the total export value in dollars. BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant in 2020 generated total exports worth $ 8.9 billion, or more than € 7.4 billion. Despite everything that happened in 2020, the factory simply set a production record in the second half. A total of 361,365 cars were produced in Spartanburg, of which 218,820 went abroad.
Of that number, almost a quarter, namely 23.3 percent, will disappear to China. Germany accounts for 12.9 percent, South Korea for 7.8, Canada for 6 and Russia for 5.3 percent. The X models that you see driving here in Europe also often come from the US.
From Z3 to X7
The fact that BMW’s only American factory is so busy has everything to do with what is being built in South Carolina. BMW focuses entirely on X models, so SUVs. The X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 are built here, including their M versions and plug-in hybrids. An exception is the electric iX3, which also rolls off the production line for Europe in China.
BMW has been building cars in Spartanburg, or rather in Greer, since 1994. That little place is located between Greenville and Spartanburg. These were not always SUVs. Similarly, the 3-series of the E36 generation was built here, while all copies of the Z3 and the first generation of the Z4 also ran off the line at this location.
Not surprising
That BMW is the largest American car exporter may seem surprising, but on closer inspection it is not surprising. American brands have almost completely withdrawn from Europe in recent years. In China, a brand like Buick is extremely popular, but especially with locally produced models. We also find real Americans in, for example, the Middle East and of course in Canada and Mexico, but not in numbers like BMW produces and exports. The high-legged BMWs are simply in demand all over the world and that has led to this remarkable title for six years in a row.