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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BMW PRODUCES 5 MILLION
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HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, South Carolina has
become America's number one exporter of autos with the success of BMW
and now enhanced with new Volvo production and Mercedes vans. With the
vision of the late Governor Carroll Campbell who recruited BMW,
thousands of jobs have been achieved at BMW and its suppliers.
The achievements of 5 million produced by BMW was highlighted by The
Columbia Business Report of June 22nd:
bmw manufacturing passes production milestone
BMW has made 5 million vehicles in Spartanburg County.
The milestone U.S.-made BMW is a red X5 M Competition
equipped with a 617-horsepower M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine,
according to a news release. It was completed June 5 and will
remain at the factory to become part of the BMW history
collection. Others in the collection include the first car
made at the plant.
``You cannot be successful in business if you do not have
great products and great people,'' Knudt Flor, president and
CEO of BMW Manufacturing, said in the news release. ``This
BMW X5 M Competition is a symbol of the success of our
products and the commitment and dedication of our associates
and supplier network. Every BMW X5 in the world comes from
Plant Spartanburg. We are proud to call South Carolina
home.''
More than half of the BMW vehicles sold in the United
States are built at Plant Spartanburg, according to Bernhard
Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW of North America.
``We cannot overstate the importance of Plant Spartanburg
to our sales network,'' he said in the news release. ``BMW
Group has long considered the United States to be our second
home and we are proud to say that the U.S. is in fact home to
the biggest BMW plant in the world. We congratulate our
colleagues on this historic achievement.''
BMW celebrated 25 years of manufacturing in the Upstate
last year, when it built a record 411,620 vehicles. Nearly
70% of the plant's production was exported from 2010-2019.
Last year's value of exports was $9.6 billion, more than any
other U.S. carmaker for the sixth consecutive year, according
to the news release. The plant has expanded seven times, with
$10.6 billion in investment, and has 11,000 workers on site.
``BMW changed the very fabric of our state's economy when
it decided to locate in South Carolina nearly three decades
ago,'' Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. ``That this
great company built its 5 millionth American-made vehicle in
Spartanburg should be a source of great pride for our people
and a reason for celebration. It's one more example of South
Carolinians sharing in the success of a company that has
become an integral part of our state because of its
dedication to our people.''
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