electric vehicles

March 10, 2023

South Carolina's governor says he is going to ask lawmakers to approve nearly $1.3 billion to bring to the state a new electric vehicle plant. The company is a Volkswagen Group-backed group trying to revive the Scout brand of vehicles, which was a 1960s forerunner to today's SUVs. Scout Motors Inc. says it will spend$2 billion on the plant near Columbia and hopes to have 4,000 workers and begin rolling the electric SUVs off the assembly line in 2026.

A Volkswagen Group-backed automotive company announced plans this week to open a $2 billion electric truck and SUV manufacturing plant just outside of Columbia, South Carolina. Scout Motors Inc. and South Carolina officials said Friday that the company would be establishing its first manufacturing plant in Blythewood at an industrial site. Gov. Henry McMaster's office said in a news release that at full capacity, more than 200,000 vehicles may be produced annually at the facility. The project is expected to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John discusses our state’s efforts to attract the electric vehicle industry: SC Powers EV

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John discusses our state’s efforts to attract the electric vehicle industry: SC Powers EV

One of the state’s key economic drivers, advanced manufacturing specifically auto manufacturing, appears to be on the verge of a dramatic new expansion that could create thousands of jobs, and help South Carolina maintain its’ competitive position in the global economy.As the auto industry begins to pivot from combustion to battery-powered-engines, state officials and their industry partners are scrambling to make sure the automotive manufacturing sector continues to thrive because as USC Research Economist Dr. Joey Von Nessen points out, advanced manufacturing is as important to South Carolina today as textile manufacturing was in the 19th and most of the 20th century.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about Dash EV, an electric vehicle company that is moving its headquarters to Greenville, SC and about the big money coming soon to SC to support EV production at BMW’s plant in Greer, SC. Resources: Greenville Area Development Corp and BMW plans to invest $1.7 billion in U.S. to produce electric vehicles and McMaster executive order involving EVs.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about Dash EV, an electric vehicle company that is moving its headquarters to Greenville, SC and about the big money coming soon to SC to support EV production at BMW’s plant in Greer, SC. Resources: Greenville Area Development Corp and BMW plans to invest $1.7 billion in U.S. to produce electric vehicles and McMaster executive order involving EVs.

The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $2.8 billion in grants to build and expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. A total of 20 companies will receive grants for projects to extract and process lithium, graphite and other battery materials, manufacture components and strengthen U.S. supply of critical minerals. The announcement comes as the administration seeks to boost production and sales of electric vehicles as a key part of President Joe Biden's strategy to slow climate change and build up U.S. manufacturing.