Which car manufacturers operate in South Carolina

South Carolina hosts major vehicle manufacturing by BMW, Volvo Cars (including production of the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 at Volvo’s plant), and Mercedes-Benz Vans, with Scout Motors building a new factory slated to open mid-decade. These facilities anchor a robust automotive hub centered around the Upstate and Charleston regions.

Currently operating automakers with manufacturing in South Carolina

The following companies operate full-scale vehicle assembly plants in South Carolina, producing everything from luxury SUVs to commercial vans for U.S. and global markets.

• BMW Manufacturing Co. (BMW Group) — Greer/Spartanburg County: Home to BMW’s largest plant worldwide by volume, “Plant Spartanburg” builds the brand’s X-series SUVs, including X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and the XM, with significant exports moving through the Port of Charleston. BMW is also investing in nearby battery-pack assembly (Woodruff) to support future electric models built in the state.
• Volvo Car USA — Ridgeville (Berkeley County): The Volvo Car Charleston Plant transitioned from the S60 sedan to all-electric SUVs, with production of the Volvo EX90 underway. The site is also producing the Polestar 3 for the North American market through Volvo’s manufacturing campus, reflecting shared platforms within the Volvo/Geely family.
• Mercedes-Benz Vans — North Charleston/Ladson: Builds Sprinter vans for the U.S. and Canadian markets, with operations supporting the latest generation of Sprinter and associated electrified variants as the lineup evolves.

Together, these facilities make South Carolina a leading U.S. exporter of completed vehicles and a key node in global supply chains, supported by rail links, the Inland Port Greer, and Charleston’s seaport.

Announced or under-construction automaker

In addition to current producers, the state is adding new capacity as automakers expand their electric-vehicle footprints and domestic manufacturing in the U.S.

• Scout Motors (Volkswagen Group) — Blythewood (Richland County): A new factory is under construction near Columbia to build all-electric Scout-branded SUVs and pickups, with production targeted to begin in the second half of the decade. The facility represents a multibillion-dollar investment and thousands of anticipated jobs once fully ramped.

Scout’s arrival extends South Carolina’s reach into rugged, American-branded EVs, complementing the state’s existing luxury and commercial-vehicle output.

Context: An automotive ecosystem built for growth

South Carolina’s automakers are backed by a deep supplier base, logistics advantages, and new battery investments that reinforce local production of next-generation vehicles.

• Battery and components: BMW’s forthcoming Woodruff battery-pack assembly and Envision AESC’s battery-cell plant in Florence County (to supply BMW) expand the EV supply chain. Additional battery-materials and component projects in the Charleston-to-Upstate corridor support electrification.
• Supplier network: Global suppliers in transmissions, tires, electronics, and interiors operate across the state, feeding assembly plants and enabling rapid model changeovers and export volumes.
• Logistics infrastructure: The Inland Port Greer and the Port of Charleston provide efficient rail-and-sea freight options, a major factor behind South Carolina’s high share of U.S. vehicle exports by value.

This ecosystem reduces supply risk and accelerates time-to-market for new models, especially electric SUVs and commercial vehicles destined for North America and abroad.

Summary

BMW, Volvo Cars (including Polestar 3 production at the Volvo campus), and Mercedes-Benz Vans currently manufacture vehicles in South Carolina, while Scout Motors is building a major EV plant near Columbia. The combination of established OEMs, incoming investment, and a strengthening EV supply chain solidifies South Carolina as one of America’s most important auto manufacturing hubs.