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Trump wants German carmakers to "become American car companies." How would that work exactly?

Incentives for German automakers to build vehicles here — or penalties for imports — could inspire a shift in operations.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Tariffs are stifling the region with world's largest BMW plant, official says

May 15, 2019
Spartanburg, South Carolina, had “white hot” growth before the taxes, councilman says.
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images

This South Carolina county councilman is "like a walking billboard for international trade"

Oct 16, 2018
David Britt helped bring jobs to Spartanburg. Now he's fighting against the president's tariffs.
Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt is one of the people who initially convinced BMW to open a factory.
Bridget Bodnar/Marketplace

This South Carolina county councilman is "like a walking billboard for international trade"

Oct 16, 2018
David Britt helped bring jobs to Spartanburg. Now he's fighting against the president's tariffs.
Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt is one of the people who initially convinced BMW to open a factory.
Bridget Bodnar/Marketplace

BMW brought jobs to South Carolina. Now tariffs are causing concern.

Mar 9, 2018
President Trump is shooting the American taxpayer in the foot, says Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt.
Inside Assembly North at BMW's Spartanburg manufacturing facility, the biggest BMW factory in the world.
Bridget Bodnar/Marketplace

"We make German cars, in America"

Aug 16, 2017
Spartanburg County made a big bet on globalization when they landed a BMW manufacturing facility 25 years ago. Here's what that looks like today.
Inside Assembly North at BMW's Spartanburg manufacturing facility, the biggest BMW factory in the world.
Bridget Bodnar/Marketplace

The place where globalization kept its promise

Aug 15, 2017
It's clear today that not all boats rose in the tide of globalization...but in some places, it sure does feel like it.
A collection of newspapers from BMW's early days in Spartanburg county.
Bridget Bodnar/Marketplace

For public good, not for profit.

Merkel brings along BMW’s chief, others for first meeting with Trump

Mar 17, 2017
The South is a good reminder of how important German automakers are to the U.S.

Let’s do the numbers: the U.S. relationship with Germany

Mar 16, 2017
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has spent weeks preparing for her meeting with Donald Trump.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the appointment of German Education Minister Johanna Wanka at Bellevue Palace on February 14, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

German luxury carmakers make a mass-market push

Apr 17, 2015
Global sales for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are at a record high.