Volvo to build new assembly plant near Charleston, SC

[thelakelander]

Hmm, I wonder if Jax was ever seriously considered?

Volvo driving to SC, passes on Georgia

By CASSIE COPE and ANDREW SHAINccope@thestate.comashain@thestate.com

South Carolina appears to have won its second auto plant.

Georgia officials learned Friday that Volvo did not choose the Peach State – the other finalist for the Swedish carmaker's first U.S. plant, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Volvo winnowed its choices to two sites about 125 miles apart, near Charleston and Savannah. Governors from both states flew to the carmaker's North American headquarters in New Jersey last week to make final pitches.

But Volvo has taken a pass on the Savannah site, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Instead, the carmaker decided to build its $500 million plant on a Berkeley County timber plantation off Interstate 26, nearly 40 miles northwest of Charleston. The plant could employ up to 4,000 workers over the next decade, according to an environmental permit.

South Carolina is ready to borrow up to $120 million for incentives to lure the automaker through economic-development bonds, according to the Treasurer's Office.

The S.C. Commerce Department also can offer industrial prospects an array of incentives, including money from a deal-closing fund that was given $45 million by legislators this fiscal year.

The state also could tap into another pot of money for site improvements or offer tax credits for jobs created, including rebates of a portion of new employees' state income taxes.

Volvo would become the second European automaker to locate in South Carolina.

BMW opened its first U.S. plant in Greer in 1994, transforming South Carolina's economic culture.

The Upstate plant now employs more than 8,000 and has attracted thousands of additional jobs at its suppliers. BMW's plant site also has become a tourist destination with a driving course.

The first phase of the Volvo plant would cover 575 acres near Ridgeville with another 322 acres set aside for expansion, according to an environmental permit.

No S.C. sources would confirm Friday that Volvo formally had chosen the Palmetto State for the plant.

The S.C. Commerce Department does not comment on economic development projects, spokeswoman Allison Skipper said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article20557590.html#storylink=cpy

[spuwho]

BMW uses Charleston for its POE and export terminal, so I am not surprised Volvo would leverage some of the same.  VW Audi seems to have settled on Jax for its Chattanooga pipeline.

[TheCat]

Was Jacksonville in the running for this?

[thelakelander]

Not for sure. I can't imagine if we were, we were taken serious. To land a plant like this requires a level of public incentives, subsidies, and wheeling and dealing that's typically out of Florida's league.

[MusicMan]

I lived in SC for many years. I frequently drive through the state on my way to Greenville -Spartanburg. Interstate 95 in SC is a joke. It is primarily two lanes. If you ever driven through there at a major Holiday you know what I mean. I am certain the folks who made this decision have never actually driven around the state of SC. It is somewhat Third World in many respects.

Interstate 26 is pretty much the same.

[fsquid]

I lived in SC for many years. I frequently drive through the state on my way to Greenville -Spartanburg. Interstate 95 in SC is a joke. It is primarily two lanes. If you ever driven through there at a major Holiday you know what I mean. I am certain the folks who made this decision have never actually driven around the state of SC. It is somewhat Third World in many respects.

I hate that part of I-95

[dp8541]

Not for sure. I can't imagine if we were, we were taken serious. To land a plant like this requires a level of public incentives, subsidies, and wheeling and dealing that's typically out of Florida's league.

Quote below is from The State based out of Columbia SC on the announcement today regarding potential incentives which landed the plant in SC.

"South Carolina offered about $150 million in incentives to land Volvo, including about $120 million in economic-development bonds that will need final state approval, Hitt said. The state also offered grants for site improvements and tax credits for jobs created."

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article20628765.html#storylink=cpy

[Ocklawaha]

I lived in SC for many years. I frequently drive through the state on my way to Greenville -Spartanburg. Interstate 95 in SC is a joke. It is primarily two lanes. If you ever driven through there at a major Holiday you know what I mean. I am certain the folks who made this decision have never actually driven around the state of SC. It is somewhat Third World in many respects.

Keeping in mind that not unlike Long Beach circa 1975, Charleston has just lost massive Naval installations that dated back to colonial times.
Deep water, Post-Panamax compliant already, and long frontage along deep water and rail made these (both CA and SC) prime FEDERAL "do over" locations. Hell Jacksonville wasn't even smart enough to get Cecil Field directly connected with our deep water via rail and limited access.

As for 3Rd World? I love it when North American's toss that term around, especially with regards to primitive conditions... Ever been to Pahokee? Belle Glade?

[vicupstate]

Charleston has just lost massive Naval installations

Actually, that was about 20 years ago.

[spuwho]

There are some other factors that drive these decisions.

Many of BMW suppliers opened facilities in South Carolina when they located there. Many of those suppliers overlap with Volvo. By locating closer to the port it enhances their JIT manufacturing.

[I-10east]

I lived in SC for many years. I frequently drive through the state on my way to Greenville -Spartanburg. Interstate 95 in SC is a joke. It is primarily two lanes. If you ever driven through there at a major Holiday you know what I mean. I am certain the folks who made this decision have never actually driven around the state of SC. It is somewhat Third World in many respects.

I agree. Amazingly every time I've driven through there, the highway was open (slower traffic in right lane) with cars not road-hogging neck and neck together at slower speeds. An idiot that road hogs the fast lane creates VERY dangerous situations, as a driver behind can be recklessly impatient, and it also creates prolonged blindspots behind the rolling barricade. I almost got in a wreck a couple of weeks ago on 295 because a road hogging SUV, and that forced me to be in a blind spot of another SUV.

Here's what can happen (sorry for going off course).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA7BASFqXIw