BMW announced on Thursday that they will invest nearly $900 million over the next three years and create 300 new jobs in 2012 at its South Carolina Plant. The investment will allow the luxury auto maker to create 350,000 vehicles in the mid-term.
The announcement of the investment will allow for the expanded production of BMW X6, X5, and X3 SUVs. The all-new BMW X4 will also be produced at the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant.
The BMW X4 will be released in 2014 and is said to be a mix of the X3 and the sporty X6. The compact crossover will share powertrains with the X3. The X4 will also receive many fuel-efficient features such as stop-start systems, brake-energy recuperation, and enhanced aerodynamics.
In 2011, this plant produced over 270,000 vehicles for over 130 markets around the world. BMW invested $750 million into the plant between 2008 and 2010 to expand production of the popular BMW X3 compact SUV.
Working with its brake supplier, Brembo, BMW is exploring the option of adding new brakes to enhance the performance of the M5 even further. Carbon ceramic brakes have been used for years in high-end racing series due to their ability to handle immense heat loads without any issues. Very rarely though do this high-performance brakes end up on consumer sedans.