BMW confirms X7 SUV, production heading to South Carolina

As expected, BMW has confirmed plans to build the X7. The announcement was made at the company’s South Carolina plant, which will serve as the exclusive production facility for the all-new SUV.

“I have been asked many times: ‘Why don’t you offer a BMW X model beyond the BMW X5?’ And today, I’m happy to provide the answer to that question,” said BMW chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer. “We have decided to develop and build a totally new X model – the new BMW X7.”

The company has yet to announce full details surrounding the new SUV, though separate rumors suggest the German company may be co-developing a large SUV with partner Rolls-Royce.

“I promise this SAV will also be highly fuel efficient while offering outstanding driving performance,” Reithofer added. “It will be a true BMW.”

Investments of approximately $1 billion will help the Spartanburg plant achieve a 50-percent jump in production capacity, representing 450,000 vehicles annually, by the end of 2016. The investment will also increase the workforce by 10 percent, adding 800 jobs.

The X7 isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, but it will be preceded by another new model — the X4 — that will also be built in South Carolina.