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Childers, who drove the first U.S.-made BMW off the assembly line near Spartanburg exactly 15 years ago Tuesday and is now a manager with the company, was wrong.
Some 5,000 workers now turn out an average of 500 to 600 vehicles a day, one of many milestones celebrated Tuesday at a ceremony inside the sprawling plant.
The company used the occasion to trot out the 1.5 millionth automobile made in Greer since 1994 -- a 2009 Monaco Blue BMW X6 xDrive 35i with oyster interior. The right-hand drive sport activity coupe is bound for a customer in Hong Kong, the automaker said.
"We are very proud of the positive impact this BMW plant has delivered for this area and the quality of the vehicles that our associates produce for world markets each day," said Josef Kerscher, president of BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC.
BMW is arguably one of South Carolina's biggest-ever economic- development coups.
Announced in June 1992 under then-Gov. Carroll Campbell, the plant started out with 500 employees. It now has more than 5,000 workers on its payroll, though it cut back on its contract labor force this year in response to the slowing demand for cars.
