Rolls-Royce has announced that the car company will expand its manufacturing footprint in South Carolina, with a $75 million investment at its engine plant in Aiken.
The company said the investment will further machine capabilities at the plant, which produces mtu Series 4000 engines, and will create 60 new jobs.
Rolls-Royce said additional machining in the United States is needed to meet the demand.
Currently, most of the engine components are manufactured in Germany and then sent to the United States. With the expansion, more of those components will be machined directly in the United States, the company said.
“The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers — especially in the fast-growing American data center industry,” Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce Power Systems in America, said in a statement.
“By increasing our machining capabilities in Aiken, we can supply more engines to Mankato, enabling us to deliver more gensets with shorter lead times. These investments reflect our commitment to supporting U.S. customers with reliable, locally produced solutions," he added.
Gov. Henry McMaster praised the expansion.
“Rolls-Royce’s expansion in Aiken County further positions South Carolina as a leader in advanced manufacturing,” the governor said in a statement provided by Rolls-Royce. “This investment and the 60 jobs it will bring represent a big win for the community, and we are proud of the success Rolls-Royce has found in our state.”
The facility expansion will occur in two phases, according to Rolls-Royce.
Phase one includes expanding the existing facility’s footprint by 37,000 square feet. That work will begin in the first quarter of next year, the company said.
The second phase could add another 22,000 square feet to the manufacturing capacity.
The automaker said production is expected to start in July 2027.
