Scout Motors breaks ground, on track for EV production

By Mike Switzer

Published March 21, 2024 at 6:30 AM EDT

Dr. Jan Spies, chief production officer at Scout Motors in Blythewood, speaks at the plant's groundbreaking celebration on Feb. 15, 2024

One of the largest manufacturing plants to be built in our state recently held their groundbreaking ceremony in the Midlands and we have their top local representative on the phone to tell us more. Mike Switzer interviews Dr. Jan Spies, chief production officer at Scout Motors in Blythewood, SC. Richland County Economic Development Office - Scout Motors info page.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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