This year also marks the 10th anniversary of BMW Roadster production in the USA.

The Z4 Roadster, the first next-generation vehicle launched at the Spartanburg plant, began production in October 2002 and the 100,000th Z4 was built in November 2004.

Production of the updated Z4 Roadster and the new Z4 M Roadster began in January 2006, with the first Australian supplies due in April.

BMW will begin production of the all-new Z4 Coupé and M Coupé within weeks.

The Spartanburg plant has undergone various expansions and restructurings since opening in July 1994.

• 1996 Added 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Body and Assembly areas.
• 1998 Expanded Body and Assembly areas to build the X5, increasing the floor space from 1.2 million square feet to 2.1 million square feet and adding approximately 1,000 workers.
• 2000 Constructed a new 189,000-square-foot shop for the Z4 Roadster, completed a 90,000-square-foot automated warehouse/sequencing centre, an 18,000-square-foot Information Technology Centre to house communications and data services systems and a 60,000-square-foot Performance Centre that offers driving experiences and schools for enthusiasts of all levels and abilities, all adjacent to the plant.
• 2005 Completed the BMW Information Technology Research Centre (ITRC), dedicated to the research of advanced automobile information technology on the Clemson University ICAR campus, refurbished the former TNS Mill into a logistics centre, constructed a Process Development Centre, which links BMW with its North American suppliers, and provides pre-production evaluation of supplier components for U.S.-made BMW vehicles.
• 2006 Demolished the two-line assembly system and converted it to a single-line system, which allows for additional flexibility to handle seasonal fluctuation of models, as well as the introduction of new models to markets in a shorter lead time, and constructed a new high-speed manufacturing testing facility.

Employment has grown steadily at BMW Manufacturing. When BMW announced in 1992 that it would locate its first North American factory in South Carolina, the company pledged to employ 2,000 people by the year 2000. BMW employed 3,000 by year 2000 and today about 4,500 people work at the plant.

Vehicle production has also increased to meet growing customer demand. Production grew from 51,878 units in 1999 to 166,090 in 2003.

New Ford Courier Debuts in Thailand
10th March, 2006
Ford Australia has indicated the all-new Courier light truck range will go on sale here at the end of 2006 ..... more

Mitsubishi Colt Gets New Engine and More
8th March, 2006
The '06 Colt gets a new 1.5 litre all-alloy DOHC four-cylinder engine with MIVEC that replaces the previous 1.5 litre cast iron block engine ..... more

Renault at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show
8th March, 2006
Renault has chosen Geneva for the public appearances of new Mégane, new Espace and its Altica concept car and the unveiling of the new Clio Renault Sport ..... more

Pirtek Backs Ford In Rally Championship
8th March, 2006
Ford's entry in the 2006 Australian Rally Championship will officially be known as Pirtek Rally Team Ford ..... more

Audi Names Driver Teams for Le Mans
8th March, 2006
Audi will compete at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race on 17/18th June, with a brace of high-calibre driving squads. Six seasoned campaigners, who have all won the endurance classic at least once ..... more

Precious Metal - The Peugeot 407 Coupe
7th March, 2006
Peugeot have announced the pricing structure for the stunning new 407 Coupe, which goes on sale in Australia later this month ..... more

Ford Announces New Racing Manager
7th March, 2006
Ford Australia yesterday announced the appointment of Ray Price as the new Ford Racing Manager in Australia ..... more

GM to Sell 17.4% Equity Stake in Suzuki
7th March, 2006
General Motors Corp announced overnight it would reduce its equity stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. from 20.4 percent to 3.0 percent ..... more

Jayco's Sterling Caravan Design
7th March, 2006
Jayco’s key challenge is to continue developing and building the best recreational vehicles (RVs) in the country ..... more

Ford Duo Claim Points Finish In Rally Mexico
6th March, 2006
BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen both claimed points finishes on the Rally Mexico ..... more

Small Cars Lead in Softer Motor Vehicle Market
6th March, 2006
The growth in sales of light cars continued in February against the background of a general softening in the Australian motor vehicle market ..... more

Exceptional Sales for Suzuki
6th March, 2006
Suzuki has proved itself as a major player in the automotive industry, with global sales in 2005 reaching a record 2,010,000 units, a 107% increase on the previous year ..... more

Mitsubishi Sales Continue To Build
6th March, 2006
Mitsubishi's sales continued to build in February with an increase in overall market share, a 41% lift in 380 sales and the car gaining further market share against its rivals ..... more

Caterham Seven Provides Fun
5th March, 2006
Perhaps it was never really in doubt but now it’s official; the British find the Caterham Seven is a fun car to drive ..... more

New Saab 9-5 Flagship
5th March, 2006
On show for the first time in Queensland, the new 9-5 Aero Sedan headlines Saab’s fresh model line-up at the Brisbane International Motor Show ..... more

Ford Unveils Tough Truck Concept in Brisbane
3rd March, 2006
Ford today drove home the importance of the light truck market by staging the local premiere of a stunning concept truck at the Brisbane Motor Show ..... more

New Volkswagen Passat At Brisbane Motor Show
3rd March, 2006
The new Volkswagen Passat Sedan and Wagon made their Australian debut at the Brisbane Motor Show today ..... more

Japan's Mazda RX-8 'True Red Style'
2nd March, 2006
Mazda has announced that the Mazda RX-8 True Red Style Special Edition went on sale today throughout Japan ..... more

There's A Pajero VR-X Coming Soon
2nd March, 2006
Mitsubishi is introducing a limited edition Pajero VR-X this month. Based on the GLX, and available with both the 3.8 litre V6 petrol, or 3.2 litre diesel engine ..... more

All-New Volvo S80 Debuts In Geneva
2nd March, 2006
The all new Volvo S80 makes its entry onto the international stage at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show with a highly unique strength ..... more

Mitsubishi Motors at 76th Geneva Motor Show
1st March, 2006
Mitsubishi gave the Concept-EZ MIEV 4WD mono-box concept and the Colt CZC coupe-convertible their world premieres at the 76th Geneva Motor Show ..... more

Renault Clio Renaultsport 197
1st March, 2006
The new Clio Renaultsport 197 stands out as a worthy successor to Clio Renaultsport 182 and features a groundbreaking first in its segment in the form of a rear air diffuser ..... more

Suzuki To Contest WRC From 2007
1st March, 2006
Suzuki has announced, at the Geneva Motor Show, that it will enter the World Rally Championship (WRC) from August, 2007 onwards ..... more

Audi's New Allroad
1st March, 2006
Audi’s brand new A6 Avant based Allroad quattro all-terrain vehicle has been unveiled in readiness for the 2006 Geneva Motor Show ..... more