BMW exported more vehicles by value from the U.S. in 2025 than any other automaker as it navigates a shifting tariff landscape.
The details: According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, BMW shipped nearly 200,000 vehicles from the U.S. last year, totaling $9 billion in value, with the automaker’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility driving most of the exports, SC Biz reported.
The majority of BMW’s U.S. shipments were assembled at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility and exported through the Port of Charleston.
Roughly half of the vehicles produced at the Spartanburg plant are shipped to nearly 120 global markets, while more than 52% of the vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2025 were assembled at the facility.
Vehicles assembled at the South Carolina facility include five top-selling BMW X models, three Motorsport X models, and two plug-in hybrid X models.
What they’re saying: “Free trade and open markets enable growth and prosperity. Our plants — and above all the strong supplier networks in each respective region — benefit from this,” Milan Nedeljković, a member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said, per SC Biz.
Why it matters: BMW’s export strength underscores how deeply global production and trade policy remain tied to vehicle availability, pricing, and long-term product planning.
Between the lines: News of BMW’s lead in U.S. export value comes as the company tries to negotiate a deal with the European Union to secure a tariff exemption for its Chinese-made Mini electric vehicles, reports Reuters.
The talks involve a potential minimum pricing model that could replace EU tariffs on the Mini EVs, which had previously been slated for U.S. sale before escalating tariffs with China.
BMW’s ongoing negotiations with the EU follow a February agreement between Brussels and Volkswagen, under which the group’s SEAT/Cupra brand secured a tariff exemption for its all-electric Tavascan SUV coupe.
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However, reports suggest an all-electric Mini in the U.S. isn’t entirely off the table down the road—despite the automaker delaying its 2030 EV ambitions—amid speculation it has considered moving production of the electric coupe to Europe, where EVs now account for more than 50% of Mini’s sales.
What they’re saying: “We’re still moving in that direction, but we’ve seen, particularly for North America, ICE is still very much a thing and will be for the foreseeable future,” said Michael Peyton, vice president of Mini’s Americas region, speaking about BMW’s prior EV plans, per CarBuzz.
Bottom line: BMW’s export lead is a reminder that strong U.S. manufacturing does not insulate automakers—or dealers—from global trade friction. For retailers, the bigger takeaway is that tariff policy and regional demand shifts will continue influencing model mix, EV timing, and potential affordability in the U.S. market.
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