[F32Fleet]

While I apprecuate the metric I have to question the relevance if other automakers simply choose to build within their foreign markets rather than export from the US.

The SUV market in the US is possibly the largeat in the world so it would never make sense to import them.

[james550imanual]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

While I apprecuate the metric I have to question the relevance if other automakers simply choose to build within their foreign markets rather than export from the US.

The SUV market in the US is possibly the largeat in the world so it would never make sense to import them.

Always just comes down to cost. If suv market was stronger in Europe, I bet they probably open one up there. But South Carolina for now has extra capacity and supply chain to support global market so it is heck of a lot cheaper to maximize capacity at a current plant than it is to build a entirely new car line.

So there is some credit that has to be given to South Carolina. That labor force is willing and is showing up to make cars at a rate that supports global orders. Bmw invested heavily there and the community responded with a great labor force. If it was a typical unionized plant, no way bmw carries that risk for their export sales

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by M3AWD

Meanwhile some people buy a Ford or Chevy to support the American economy & jobs :

Isn't the purchase of a BMW X supporting 100,000s of US workers and supply chain?

Sure profits might be going elsewhere. Over to Ford and Chevy to step up and compete product to product.

[M3AWD]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Isn't the purchase of a BMW X supporting 100,000s of US workers and supply chain?

Sure profits might be going elsewhere. Over to Ford and Chevy to step up and compete product to product.

I was trying to point out that buying German cars also supports the U.S. economy & jobs.

[patsbimmer1]

I wonder if there's anything else baked into that export value and if it's based on MSRP value or some other cost. I'm seeing an average export value of $39k per unit. Is the X2/X1 really outselling the X3/X5 by that much more to way the average that heavily?

[Kowalski2011]

Very interesting article. I've always found it a source of pride that my 2001 Z3 was assembled in Spartanburg, SC.

[james550imanual]

Originally Posted by M3AWD

I was trying to point out that buying German cars also supports the U.S. economy & jobs.

Yep. The "buy American" crowd doesn't quite understand how global companies operate. Buying a Camry or x5 creates more jobs in the US than a mustang (which has so many parts from Mexico). Shit The all American Buick is now made in china.

The difference is the ford executives get richer and have a higher chance of mismanaging those profits than would a Toyota executive. Detroit big 3 execs have some of the highest salaries in the industry.

[Chihuahua]

So BMW is an importer/exporter.