Eleven years after its launch, the one millionth unit of the BMW X5 rolled off the assembly line at Spartanburg, South Carolina.
This amazing landmark in production coincides with the Australian launch of new variants designed as mid-life updates for the multi-awarded BMW X5. They are the X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive40d and X5xDrive50i. The BMW X5 remains the leading luxury SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) in Australia. For the last seven years, it has consistently outsold its competitors.
In 1999, at the time of its launch, the BMW X5 was a unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle. Most impressive about the four-wheel driven vehicle was its ability to combine truly excellent driving performance on the road with exceptional traction and stability off-road. Achieving this feat of design at the level that the X5 delivered made the rest of the automotive world take notice of BMW.
Over the years, the BMW X5 continues to exemplify the success and benefits of the Sports Activity Vehicle concept. It is characterized by its top-performing intelligent four-wheel drive system, powerful xDrive engine for on- and off-road performance, spacious and flexible interiors that accommodate up to seven seats, and the superior driving experience that the BMW brand is famous for.
Several awards for design, quality and reliability have been garnered by the X5. The trade journal “auto motor und sport” awarded it the “autonis” design prize for most attractive design in 2007. In the same year, it also received a Gold Award from the J.D. Power Study on consumer satisfaction in North America.
For 2007 and 2008, it was named “Top Safety Pick” with regards to its behavior in crash testing by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In terms of reliability, it ranked second only to the BMW X3 in the all-terrain category, according to breakdown statistics issued by ADAC, the premier automobile club in Europe.
The BMW Spartanburg plant in South Carolina has housed the primary production line for the BMW X5 since its inception, and it can be said that it has grown together with the model. It has been in operation for 15 years now, and is the knowledge center for the design and development of the BMW X model series. Along with the X5, the X6 is also being produced in the same plant, and by the end of the year, the newest X3 variants will also originate from this important location.
Remarkably, the BMW X model series has enjoyed consistent growth in sales that has not been matched by competing manufacturers in its segment. This, in addition to the worldwide acclaim and recognition, gives BMW good reason to celebrate, just as the one millionth X5 rolls out.
