Steel-toed boots, safety glasses and sophisticated robotics will likely resonate among this year’s summer memories for a group of Laurens County educators.
Just over 25 years ago, an announcement was made that would forever transform the business landscape of our region and state: plans for Germany luxury vehicle maker BMW to build a manufacturing facility in Spartanburg County.
In May 2016, Oconee County landed its first BMW supplier in Oconee Industry & Technology Park — a beacon that called Walhalla High School alumnus Josh Ledbetter back to his home.
The Upstate Business Journal recently published an article by the Upstate SC Alliance that explored the ideas presented in the plastics event in Detroit, with voices from industries that have manufacturing operations within the Upstate and tying industry challenges to Clemson University research.
Volvo Cars Corp. announced that it has chosen South Carolina as the site for its first U.S. plant, outlining a plan to build a $500 million plant in Berkeley County.
Home to global leaders such as BMW, Bosch, Magna, Michelin and ZF, Upstate South Carolina has become one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for automotive production and research
“The South is doing far more to recruit and train for the next generation,” said Laurie Harbour, President and CEO of Harbour Results, in regards to building an automotive workforce. “You guys are setting the foundation”
Next week the automotive industry’s national and global leaders will come together in Upstate South Carolina for the 4th Annual S.C. Automotive Summit, held February 23-25 in Greenville, S.C.
Last year proved to be a successful one for business in Upstate South Carolina. In addition to numerous announcements from companies establishing operations in the region, there was no shortage of businesses that announced plans to expand throughout the area.
What began as just an idea in 2003 has grown into a 250-acre advanced technology research campus, which operates as a unique nexus of academia, the automotive industry and government.
