BMW Begins Building New Flagship SUV
BMW has begun building pre-production models of its X7 luxury SUV that's set to arrive later this year so BMW can better compete with large luxury utility models.

Photo of the pre-production X7 courtesy of BMW.

Photo of the pre-production X7 courtesy of BMW.
BMW has begun building pre-production models of its X7 luxury SUV that's set to arrive later this year so BMW can better compete with large luxury utility models.
BMW's X7 would likely go into a field that includes the Mercedes-Benz GLS, upcoming Audi Q8, Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus LX, and Lincoln Navigator.
The three-row SUV will be built at BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on the same platform as the X5 and X6. The plant also builds the X3 and X4. BMW will reportedly offer an optional V-12 engine.
BMW will begin testing the vehicle "under partially extreme conditions" in the desert of California's Death Valley as well as the ice and snow of Scandinavia, according to a release.
BMW's South Carolina manufacturing operation is it's largest global plant and produced more than 411,000 units in 2016.
More Operations

Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain
Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.
Read More →
What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You
Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights
Does data alone drive results in operations?
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
Gary Van Orden Retires After Nearly Four Decades in Commercial Fleet
From answering customer calls at Ford Motor Company to leading fleet sales across multiple OEMs and a fleet management company, Gary Van Orden's career reflects nearly four decades of leadership in commercial fleet.
Read More →
How Stellantis Plans to Get Ahead of Fleet Downtime
Vehicle acquisition may grab the headlines, but fleet uptime increasingly determines operating success. Darren Bradshaw of Mopar North America gives the details.
Read More →
Hyundai Releases 2027 Commercial Program Incentives
The 2027 Model Year "Fleet Street Incentives" are available to commercial and government fleets.
Read More →
It's All Downhill from Here! Fleet Industry Raises $22,000 for Skilled Trades Scholarships
Work Truck’s Lauren Fletcher and Automotive Fleet’s Chris Brown turned a friendly racing rivalry into $22,000 for automotive technology and skilled trades scholarships.
Read More →The Top 300 Commercial Fleets
The Top 300 Commercial Fleets: See the List
Read More →

