BMW auto production, Greer, South Carolina - Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Here the past, present and future of BMW come together in a one-of-a-kind building. See the cars, the speed, the innovation–all for free in the only BMW museum in North America. The Zentrum is more than just a museum; it's a meeting and events center, a cafe, a gallery and a history lesson–all wrapped into one ultimate experience. Located next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the U.S., this unique place offers something for everyone.

BMW Manufacturing employs over 7,000 people to produce the X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicle and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe. The 1,150-acre, 4-million-square-foot campus generates its own power on site, offers fully equipped medical facilities including an on-site pharmacy and provides 24-hour security and firefighting personnel. To date, BMW has invested over $5 billion in its South Carolina operations.

Fastest factory start-up in automotive history—a record 23 months from site groundbreaking to first car produced

BMW's first full manufacturing facility outside Germany and first U.S. production facility

First automobile manufacturing plant in the United States to use water-based (instead of high solvent) paints

Catalyst for the first 100% digitally developed vehicle manufactured by BMW—X5 Sports Activity Vehicle

Engineered a successful landfill methane "Gas to Energy" program that provides 50% of the plant's total energy requirements

Following the 2008 expansion, the plant is now over 4-million-square-feet under roof
Opened for production: July 11, 1994
First vehicle produced: White 318i, September 8, 1994
Average daily output: About 1,000 vehicles
Total production since 1994: Over 2,000,000 vehicles (through 1/12/2012)
Number of jobs: Over 7,000
North American Suppliers: 170
South Carolina Suppliers: 40

BMW Manufacturing Co. was the first manufacturer in the U.S. to use water-borne color matched primer

Positions on the line are rotated to reduce repetition, as well as being used for cross-training

Paperwork verifying the correct collaboration and installment of parts travels with the vehicle throughout the line

Ten bolts are used to mount the engine to the engine compartment. Total time is about 3 minutes for the engine marriage process.

Freedom of choice – it’s the very heart of the BMW production process. BMW produces at least 80 percent of its vehicles to customer order. When you stop to consider all the unique combinations of exterior and interior colors, engines, options, and upgrades available, it’s enough to tax the imagination. In fact, it’s been said that we could run two shifts a day, seven days a week, for up to six months and never build the same vehicle twice. Perhaps more intriguing is the intricate and intelligent process by which it all comes together: coordinated sequencing of parts and precise engineering that is so unique and so flexible it allows you to make changes to your automobile up until six days before it is built.

to scare the geese away

The spine of this orchestrated process consists of the main production lines: the Body Shop, the Paint Shop, as well as two Assembly Halls that produce the X3, X5 and X6.

ready to roll