March 6, 2015—Mercedes-Benz Vans announced Friday that it will invest around $500 million to build a new van plant in Charleston, S.C.
The facility will supply the North American market with the next-generation Mercedes Sprinter. The plant's location was officially announced in Charleston by Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, and by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
With the new plant, Mercedes-Benz Vans will become one of the largest industrial employers in the region. Within the total area of more than 200 acres, the division will create a new body shop, a paint shop and an assembly line. Construction of the new factory is scheduled to begin in 2016.
"Today's announcement builds on a decade of success for Daimler and Mercedes-Benz in the South Carolina Lowcountry, and we couldn't be happier to be the home of their first full manufacturing facility for vans in North America," Haley said in a release. "Mercedes-Benz is not only a world-class brand—they are also a great corporate citizen and partner for our state and for the Charleston community. Its decision to bring South Carolina-made vans to the North American market is huge, and the 1,300 new jobs this plant will create is a big boost to the region."