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South Carolina Economic Impact

Last year, international automakers created 79,117 local jobs in the Palmetto State, directly employing 15,221 South Carolinians. The state is home to BMW Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and a new Volvo Car USA plant. The South Carolina state economic impact report highlights this and other examples of the economic growth occurring across South Carolina thanks to international automakers.

Production

498,546

vehicles produced in 2021

100

total auto production

$14.6B

purchased from U.S. suppliers

Employment

79,083 total jobs generated in South Carolina

15,221 direct employment

8,308 dealership jobs

55,588 other indirect employment

$5.2 billion total employee compensation

$620 million dealership employee compensation

$4.6 billion in direct and other indirect employee compensation

Green Sales

10,088
international automakers* green vehicle sales
71%
international automakers green vehicle market share

*Retail and fleet sales CY2021 for Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Ferrari, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Genesis, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Karma, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Scion, smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo Cars. Source: Experian Information Solutions, Inc.

Sales

150

international nameplate dealerships

128,100

new vehicles registered in 2021

61%

market share of vehicles sold

International Automakers’ Vehicles Made in South Carolina

BMW X5 PHEV*

Volvo S60 PHEV

Volvo S60 Sedan*

Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo**

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo**

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger**

BMW X3*

BMW X4*

BMW X5*

BMW X6*

BMW X7*

Revenue

$809 million
in state and local tax receipts and other revenues
$1.2 billion
in federal tax receipts and other revenues for the federal government

The operations and related activities of international automakers and auto dealers in the U.S. contributed $10.2 billion (3.8%) to South Carolina Gross State Product (GSP) in 2021.

International Automakers Facilities

Manufacturing

Location State
BMW Manufacturing Co. Greer SC
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC Ladson SC
Volvo Car Industrial Operations Ridgeville SC

R&D

Location State
BMW Group Information Technology Research Center Greenville SC

Sales/Training/Zone Office

Location State
BMW North America Training Center Greer SC
Volvo Car University Ridgeville SC
Volvo Manufacturing Training Center Ridgeville SC
Volvo South Carolina Technical Center Ridgeville SC

Parts Center

Location State
BMW of North America Continental Distribution Center Spartanburg SC
Nissan Parts Distribution Center Greenville SC

Other

Location State
BMW Performance Center Greer SC
Mercedes-Benz USA Marshalling Yard Ladson SC
Volvo Car US Operations Summerville SC

Programs and Partnerships

Workforce Development

Location State
BMW Manufacturing Co.: BMW Scholars Program Greer SC
BMW Manufacturing Co.: BMW Management Development Program Greer SC
BMW Manufacturing Co.: Road to Production Management Greer SC
BMW Manufacturing Co.: Equipment Services Associate Development Program Greer SC
BMW Manufacturing Co.: BMW PACE Program Greer SC
BMW of North America, LLC: The BMW Automotive Service Technician Education Program (STEP) Greer SC
BMW of North America, LLC and BMW Retail Centers: BMW Group University Greer SC
Apprenticeship Carolina Columbia SC
Maintenance Apprenticeship Program Ridgeville SC
OTJ Training Ridgeville SC
Leadership Program Ridgeville SC
Trident Technical Community College North Charleston SC
readySC Columbia SC
International Automakers’ Vehicles Made in America

International automakers produced 4.2 million vehicles in America in 2021. 61 different models were exported to 135 markets around the world.

See Vehicles