US: BMW adds 100 jobs, part-time work for students

wyff4.com (Spartanburg, US) - BMW leaders announced Wednesday that the company will add 100 new jobs this year.

The positions will be in the areas of engineering, information technology and production management, Harald Krueger, a human resources executive, told a crowd that gathered inside the plant.

"We are the biggest exporter in the automotive industry in the United States and that's something we are proud of," Krueger said.

Krueger also announced the creation of the BMW Scholars Program. The two-year program will enable some full-time students at Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College and Tri-County Technical College to work 20 hours a week at BMW. BMW plans to recruit 35 scholars each year, Krueger said.

"I think this will help us to develop the next generation of our workforce here in South Carolina," Josef Kerscher, president of BMW Manufacturing, told WYFF. "I'm very optimistic that this program can become also a role model for other companies in the Southeast."

Adam Grantz, a student at Tri-County Tech, is among the first 15 scholars chosen to take part in the program.

"I'm expanding my knowledge and experience of manufacturing. I'm learning about how to do maintenance on machines and robotics that are used here to produce BMWs," Grantz told WYFF. "I'd love to have this as a permanent job."

Gov. Nikki Haley attended the announcement and praised BMW for its ever-growing investment in South Carolina.

"You give us reasons to be thankful everyday, and we thank you for that," Haley said.

Company officials said BMW's workforce has grown from 2,000 employees nearly 20 years ago to more than 7,000 today.

"What we continue to do is maintain a strong relationship with BMW," Haley told WYFF. "We're gonna continue to do all we can to keep them successful because the more successful they are, the more jobs they'll have to offer."

BMW also announced plans to invest $5 million in a new health care facility for its associates and their families. A third-party provider will operate the center, which will be built near the plant. Construction is expected to begin later this summer. The facility is scheduled to open in mid-2012 with limited services. By January 2013, company officials said the BMW Associate Family Health Center will include medical and primary health services, vision, dental, physical therapy and occupational health. BMW's onsite family pharmacy will also locate in the new facility.