BMW South Carolina X3 Plant to be featured on National Geographic's Ultimate Factories

BMW has just announced the National Geographic Channel (NGC) will air an hour-long documentary on the making of the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle as part of the popular Ultimate Factories series.

The program will premiere November 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic Channel. The show titled Ultimate Factories: BMW X3 marks the second time NGC has featured a BMW built exclusively in South Carolina. In 2007, BMW’s Z4 Roadster, built at the South Carolina factory until 2008, was featured on the program.

The writers and videographers for the highly respected publisher turned broadcaster spent nearly two weeks at the BMW factory last June filming the program.

“Once again, BMW was very pleased to welcome the National Geographic Channel into our plant. We are proud to show people all over the world the quality and craftsmanship of BMW X3, X5 and X6, built exclusively for over 130 markets around the globe," said Josef Kerscher, President, BMW Manufacturing.
The BMW X3, which began production in South Carolina in September 2010, launching sales in the U.S. early in 2011, is currently a bestseller for the company with nearly 80,000 units sold worldwide during 2011.

In 2008, BMW announced a $750 million investment in its South Carolina operation, expanding the factory by 1.5 million sq. ft. for fabrication of the BMW X3. The company expects over 270,000 BMWs to be produced in South Carolina in 2011.