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Old BMW X3 Production Ends in Graz, New Starts in South Carolina

A torch was passed last night. As the last first-generation BMW X3 rolled off the line in Graz, Austria, someone in South Carolina readied the plant for second-generation production to start this morning. As has been previously reported, BMW is shuffling things around a bit and going forward, it's partnership with the Magna Steyr plant in Austria will no longer include the X3, which will be replaced there by the new Mini Countryman built alongside the BMW X1. With the new model launching this Fall, X3 production moves to join BMW's X5 and X6 crossovers in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The first one should be rolling down the line right now.

While there are no pictures yet of the first new X3 to exit the Spartanburg line, the photo above is of the last two old X3s to leave the factory. The first was an X3 xDrive20d emergency car that will be donated by BMW to a non-profit organization in Europe. The red vehicle, X3 number 605,498, is the last of the last. It will remain at Magna Steyr to be used as an executive car and could perhaps end up as a permanent resident there on display, if MS chooses to do so.

Meanwhile, the Spartanburg plant just finished up $750 million in expansion and renovation to be able to handle an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Hopefully since all X3s will now be built in America, BMW will decide to leave a few diesels behind on our shores.

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