BMW to Invest $1.7 Billion in South Carolina EV Manufacturing
By Christian Roselund
As part of the wave of new EV and battery manufacturing announcements, on 19 October 2022 German automotive manufacturer BMW stated that it will invest $1.7 billion in EV and battery manufacturing facilities in South Carolina. This includes a $1 billion investment in its existing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to prepare for the shift to EV production. Additionally, the company will invest $700 million to build a new 90,000 square meter battery module assembly factory in Woodruff, South Carolina. By 2030 BMW expects to build at least six EV models in the
United States.
BMW plans to procure lithium-ion battery cells from Envision AESC, which is also planning to build a factory in South Carolina with the capacity to produce 30 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of cells annually. These cells are designed for BMW’s new generation of electric vehicles, with increased energy density and charging speed, which BMW says will allow for greater range. BMW also claims that emissions from the production of these cells will be reduced up to 60% through partial use of secondary lithium, cobalt & nickel material, as well as using electricity from renewable sources during production.
In addition to this U.S. factory, BMW has previously announced its partners will build four additional 20 GWh battery cell factories in China and Europe for these improved cells.
BMW is currently making battery modules at its Spartanburg plant for EVs made there. The company says that its new assembly plant in Woodruff will leverage expertise from the Spartanburg operation. The Woodruff plant will employ an estimated 300 workers.
The automaker has a goal for EVs to represent half of its total sales by 2030.
