BMW fires back at White House trade advisor Peter Navarro

BMW is doubling down on the economic benefits of its business operations in South Carolina—following recent comments by White House Senior Trade Advisor Peter Navarro criticizing the company. 

The details: Speaking to CNBC, Navarro said the business model that BMW facilitates at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina "is bad” for the U.S. economy and the country’s security, sparking BMW Manufacturing to push back detailing key points about the eight million-square-foot facility to WSPA News:

• In 2024, the plant exported roughly 225,000 BMWs, with an export value exceeding $10 billion, making it the largest automotive exporter by value in the U.S.

• More than $14.8 billion dollars has been invested in the Spartanburg facility since 1992, where 11,000 workers assemble 1,500 BMW SUVs daily and 400,000 a year—with parts from hundreds of suppliers across the U.S.

• Since 2014, the plant in South Carolina has exported over 2.7 million BMW vehicles, representing approximately two-thirds of its total production, with an export value of $104 billion. 

Why it matters: As the trade narrative shifts from data to loyalty, companies like BMW are being forced to draw sharper lines—proving not just that they invest in America, but that they belong here.

Between the lines: BMW’s response to Navarro’s comments is one of a few debates that have played out publicly with the White House senior trade advisor and industry leaders about the auto levies.  

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk—who has been critical of the tariffs—called Navarro a “moron” regarding a comment the trade advisor made saying that Tesla’s position as a “car assembler” rather than a car manufacturer could be at odds with the levies.

• Steve Moore—President Trump’s former senior economic advisor—said Tuesday that he sides with Musk on the matter of tariffs, noting that they can hurt the U.S. economy. 

Bottom line: The public debates between industry leaders and Trump officials like Navarro—coupled with the uncertainty of the on and off tariffs—could fuel more instability in the auto market.

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