BERLIN, April 10 (Reuters) -

German automaker BMW is considering adding shifts

to its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina to boost output by up

to 80,000 units, executives said on an analyst call on Thursday,

as carmakers brainstorm ways to appease the Trump administration

and ward off a mounting trade war.

The premium carmaker had around 30 days' worth of inventory

in the United States as well as some stocks and components, and

would keep prices stable on most U.S. models until the end of

May, executives told analysts, according to a note on the call

by Bernstein Research and confirmed by BMW.

The investor call was held before a closed period on company

information ahead of annual results scheduled for May 7.

The carmaker's Spartanburg plant, which exports around

half of the vehicles it makes to customers outside the United

States, is located in a free-trade zone.

That meant that parts imported by BMW for vehicles

destined for exports were exempt from tariffs, executives said,

providing some relief, according to the note.