X3 production to shift to US and Germany from Austria

[LeMansX5]

BMW to shift X3 model production to Germany and US from Austria by 2010
FRANKFURT (AFX) 07.23.2006, 11:31 AM- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG plans to shift production of its X3 model to Germany and the US from Austria by 2010, Automotive News Europe reported, citing an unnamed company manager.

A BMW spokesman contacted by DPA News Agency said such a move was a possibility.

'Naturally that could happen, but things could also turn out differently,' the spokesman said without providing further details.

Automotive News Europe reported that Austria's Magna Steyr will lose the production contract once BMW begins production of the next generation of the X3.

The unnamed BMW manager said that by 2010 his company plans to produce 50,000 X3s at its Spartanburg, US plant and another 100,000 in Regensburg, Germany.

The vehicles are currently built at Magna Steyr's Graz, Austria facility.

Source: Forbes.com