In 1994, the first South Carolina-made BMW rolled off the assembly line at the German automaker's Upstate plant. Twenty-five years and more than 4 million cars later, South Carolina has become a leader in the global automotive industry. Today, that industry has ballooned to include approximately 400 facilities and more than 60,000 workers across our state.
In an effort to build on this success and keep our automotive sector growing, Team South Carolina has gathered together each year since 2012 to discuss business trends, share best practices and connect with one another. Later this month, we will do so again as the 8th Annual South Carolina Automotive Summit is held in Greenville, S.C. Taking place February 19-21, the event will provide attendees an opportunity to hear directly from industry experts on a variety of topics, including: trade; forecasting; workforce; autonomous technology; supply chain; mobility; logistics; and more.
As the final preparations are made for this year's summit, it's clear that the excitement surrounding auto manufacturing in South Carolina will only continue. As it does -- and, as our state further asserts itself as a major player in the global automotive industry -- South Carolina's economy will continue to thrive, bringing opportunities and prosperity to every corner of this state.