BMW Manufacturing exports $8.9 billion in cars.

BMW Manufacturing exported $8.9 billion worth of cars made in Spartanburg County in 2020, despite a temporary shutdown last spring caused by a supply chain under siege from COVID-19.

For the seventh consecutive year, BMW Manufacturing led the nation in automotive exports by value, according to a news release that cites data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. BMW Manufacturing exported 218,820 sports activity vehicles and coupes during 2020 with an export value of more than $8.9 billion, the release said. The BMWs produced in Spartanburg, were exported through the Port of Charleston (more than 189,000 units), and through five other southeastern ports: Savannah; Brunswick, Ga.; Jacksonville, Fla; Miami, Fla.; and Everglades, Fla. More than 13,000 BMWs were also exported via rail.

The top five export countries for Upstate-made BMWs were China (23.3% of export volume), Germany (12.9%), South Korea (7.8%), Canada (6%), and Russia (5.3%), according to the release.

"Claiming the top spot once again for U.S. automotive exports is a direct result of the commitment and dedication of the Plant Spartanburg team during the challenging 2020 production year," Knudt Flor, president and CEO of BMW...