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Families of wildfire victims mired in grief, questioning what more could have been done [Video]

Heather Hollingsworth And Mark Thiessen

Associated Press

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The Eaton Fire leaves devastation in a neighborhood Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
FILE – A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire, right, stands next a home that survived in Altadena. Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
Emeralda Urena works at a check point leading to the damage zone of the Eaton Fire Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Eaton Fire leaves devastation behind Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Volunteers unload a truck transporting donated items for residents effected by the Altadena Fire, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
A jungle gym melted and destroyed by the Eaton Fire is seen at a school, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. …

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BMW Manufacturing set to build 6 fully electric models by 2030 [Video]

The excitement inside of BMW Manufacturing's Plant Spartanburg was high as the first vehicles rolled onto the newly expanded assembly line on Thursday morning. WYFF News 4 was given an exclusive look. To watch the story, click on the video above. The nearly $2 billion upfit expanded the assembly hall by more than 50 percent and will allow for the assembly of fully electric, hybrid and internal combustion engines. That diversity is part of BMW's "Technology Openness Approach." WYFF News 4 was also granted an exclusive interview with Oliver Zipse, chair of the Board of Management BMW AG.He said that strategy is all about the quality of the vehicle and the brand."Whether it's highly efficient combustion engines, whether it's plug-in hybrid, or fully electric, or even M models, we make that independent of the drivetrain, and customers have a choice. I think our current model success shows that we don't tell people what to buy, we supply what they want. We manage the complexity behind it, and we will continue that strategy here in Spartanburg," Zipse said. The expansion will enable BMW to build at least six fully electric models by 2030, and the high voltage batteries to fuel those vehicles will be assembled right down the street in Woodruff. Our tour gave us another exclusive peek today inside "Plant Woodruff," which is one year from completion. Zipse visited the plant for the first time since announcing the plan in 2022.He said he's pleased with the progress."We believe first of all in the technology, second that people would like to contribute for local value added and especially in the highly valued and very expensive electric drive train. So that is a big step for us, but also a big step for our customers," Zipse said. It's hard to overstate the economic value of South Carolina's relationship with the BMW Group for the past thirty years. The group has invested more than $14.8 billion and is now completing its seventh expansion. According to the Darla Moore School of Business at USC, the annual overall economic impact of BMW in South Carolina is $26.7 billion.Zipse said South Carolina feels like a second home."Now, 30 years later, we are the largest exporter in value of vehicles from the United States, so we are not only supplying the local market, we supply the world with our vehicles, and because we are investing, we see a grand future here in South Carolina for the world," Zipse said. He points to the company motto as the BMW Group and South Carolina look to the next 30 years, "Building Legacy - Driving Future."