BMW to Boost Capacity 16% in China

BMW AG says its capacity to build cars and SUVs in China will climb to 520,000 units in 2019 from 450,000 units currently.

BMW and partner Brilliance Automotive Group Holdings agreed today to the expansion. Last year BMW spent €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to hike its annual capacity in China by 50%. The partners operate two Chinese assembly plants, in Dadong and Tiexi.

Last year about one-third of the vehicles BMW sold in China were imported. The company notes that the all-electric BMW iX3 crossover vehicle that will go into production in China in 2020 will be sold worldwide

The BMW brand delivered 560,000 cars in China last year, surpassing the combined volume of its next two-largest markets: Germany and the U.S.