Spartanburg, S.C.  Three models produced at BMW Plant Spartanburg recently earned awards in the prestigious J. D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS)^SM and J.D. Power U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study^SM.

The BMW X4 Sports Activity Vehicle (Compact Premium SUV), BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe (Upper Midsize Premium SUV), and BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle (Large Premium SUV) all ranked highest in their segments in both the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL studies. This means all three models from the South Carolina plant won a total of six J.D. Power Awards in one year, the first time in the plant’s 27-year history of production.

“Building premium quality vehicles for our customers is our top priority, and these awards are a testament to the commitment and dedication of our great workforce,” said Robert Engelhorn, president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing. “The fact that we earned these six awards in the middle of a pandemic makes this even more remarkable."

The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study measures new-vehicle quality after 90 days of ownership. The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. APEAL Study measures new-vehicle owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle after 90 days of ownership. For both studies, more than 110,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2021 model-year vehicles were surveyed early in the ownership period from February through July 2021.

BMW Manufacturing is the largest BMW Group plant in the world, producing about 1,500 X models each day. About half of all BMWs sold in the United States are built at the Spartanburg plant. The South Carolina factory exports more than two-thirds of its models to 125 global markets. For seven consecutive years, it has been the largest exporter by value in the United States. The model portfolio includes five top-selling BMW X models, four Motorsport X models, and two plug-in hybrid electric X models. The factory has a production capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles and employs more than 11,000 people.