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Columbia Business Monthly

BMW Manufacturing Postpones Restart of S.C. Production by Three Weeks

Apr 06, 2020 11:48AM ● By David Dykes

BMW Manufacturing said it is extending its South Carolina plant shutdown by three additional weeks, meaning the company won't produce any vehicles at the Spartanburg County facility through April 30.  

The plant had been scheduled to reopen April 13.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been far reaching, and customer demand for BMW's product has declined considerably, company officials said. 

Stay-at-home orders are still active throughout the country and Mexico, which is adversely affecting the company's supply chain, BMW officials said.

"We continue to be concerned about the health and safety of the entire BMW workforce," the officials said in a statement. "During this time, additional cleaning and disinfecting will be performed at work stations throughout the plant."

While operations are suspended, BMW Manufacturing will adjust its production volume, shift models and workforce structure to reflect the changing market, the officials said.

They said BMW will continue to monitor the situation and "take appropriate action when it is needed."

BMW Manufacturing employs 11,000 people at the seven million square-foot campus. The Spartanburg plant is the BMW Group producer of the BMW X3, X3 M, X5, X5 M and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles and X4, X4 M, X6 and X6 M Sports Activity Coupes.