BMW to build new model in Greer
[size=-1]Associated Press[/size]
GREER, S.C. - BMW plans to build one of two new vehicle models at its Greer plant, the company's chairman says.
BMW chairman Helmut Panke said Tuesday that the new vehicles are a car-like minivan and a coupe designed to drive like a sports car. No decision has been made on which of the new models will be built in Greer.
It's not clear if there will be new jobs, but the potential is there.
"I think we will have to wait and see what it means," said plant spokesman Bobby Hitt. "The number of associates will be driven by the number of units rather than the number of models."
The new model also could bring new suppliers, said Dean Jones, administrator of Greenville County's Workforce Development Office. "There is a snowball effect when businesses expand and grow," Jones said.
BMW's Greer plant has about 4,600 employees; about 12,000 people work for 40 BMW suppliers throughout the state.
The plant produces the X5 sports activity vehicle and Z4 roadster. The plant is reconfiguring its assembly line to a single multipurpose line for all models, and will close for a short time this year to complete the changes.
The Greer plant produced 140,894 vehicles last year, and more than 160,000 in 2003 when it picked up the slack of other plants that were off-line, Hitt said.
[size=-1]Associated Press[/size]
GREER, S.C. - BMW plans to build one of two new vehicle models at its Greer plant, the company's chairman says.
BMW chairman Helmut Panke said Tuesday that the new vehicles are a car-like minivan and a coupe designed to drive like a sports car. No decision has been made on which of the new models will be built in Greer.
It's not clear if there will be new jobs, but the potential is there.
"I think we will have to wait and see what it means," said plant spokesman Bobby Hitt. "The number of associates will be driven by the number of units rather than the number of models."
The new model also could bring new suppliers, said Dean Jones, administrator of Greenville County's Workforce Development Office. "There is a snowball effect when businesses expand and grow," Jones said.
BMW's Greer plant has about 4,600 employees; about 12,000 people work for 40 BMW suppliers throughout the state.
The plant produces the X5 sports activity vehicle and Z4 roadster. The plant is reconfiguring its assembly line to a single multipurpose line for all models, and will close for a short time this year to complete the changes.
The Greer plant produced 140,894 vehicles last year, and more than 160,000 in 2003 when it picked up the slack of other plants that were off-line, Hitt said.