BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S.

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Automotive News Europe is reporting that BMW may be looking into expanding the number of models that the company manufactures here in the States. While the German automaker says that there are no solid plans on the table right now, it's possible that both the 3 Series and the 5 Series could join the X3, X5 and X6 on the production line at the BMW facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina (shown above). The move is being considered as the U.S. threatens to overtake Germany as the company's largest auto market. In 2010, the U.S. fell a mere 252 vehicles shy of taking the sales crown from Germany.

BMW currently holds a 2.3-percent market share in the U.S. with 266,000 vehicles sold in America in 2010. With the U.S. economy in a slow but steady state of improvement, the company fully expects to eclipse that number in 2011. As a result, the Spartanburg facility will operate at its full capacity of 240,000 units this year.

So far, it's unclear as to whether the company would eye building a new facility for the American-built 3 and 5 Series vehicles or if BMW would simply add on to its South Carolina plant.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.]BMW reportedly pondering building 3 and 5 Series models in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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