BMW supplier expanding in Upstate

BMW supplier Magna International plans to open a second factory in southern Greenville County, adding 153 jobs, economic development officials announced Wednesday.

Magna will spend just over $50 million on the 165,000-square-foot factory in The Matrix industrial park along U.S. 25 in the latest Upstate jobs announcement tied to growth at BMW’s plant near Greer.

Magna plans to occupy the new factory in June to make exterior parts for BMW, according to the Greenville Area Development Corp., Greenville County's economic development organization.

The Canadian company has operated a different plant in the southern Greenville County of Moonville since 1994 to make steel parts for BMW such as hoods, doors and fenders. That plant goes by the name Drive Automotive Industries.

Mark Farris, GADC president, said the announcement shows that the county is effectively nurturing the automotive industry.

Another BMW supplier, Draxlmaier Group, announced in September that it would spend $35 million and add 94 jobs expanding its factory in Duncan.