Photo shows the all-new BMW X4's start of production at the Spartanburg plant.

BMW has officially announced another addition to its growing SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) line-up with the confirmation of the X7. Although no details were given, it was done to coincide with BMW’s additional investment to expand its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA. In total, BMW will invest a total of one billion (yes, that’s with a ‘B’) US dollars by 2016. This increases their annual capacity by 50 percent to 450,000 vehicles from 300,000.

The often-rumored X7 will definitely slot above the X5 in terms of size, and it’s been suggested that it will be based off the X5 platform but will offer a three-row seating configuration to go head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

BMW’s Spartanburg plant currently assembles the entire X line-up of vehicles except the X1—the X3, X5, X5 M, and X6 M. To mark 20 years of production in the US, BMW used the occasion to start the production of its all-new X4. At the same ceremony, BMW has also announced that a hybrid version of the X5 will also be produced at the plant.

In order to increase the Spartanburg plant’s annual capacity, BMW will employ 800 new jobs, bringing the total workforce to 8,800.