A trusted partner throughout the entire business life cycle, South Carolina remains committed to the success of its companies, from launch to legacy. A prime U.S. East Coast location coupled with pro-business policies, a low cost of doing business and competitive incentives reinforce that South Carolina offers the ultimate business advantage.
Always an Automotive Powerhouse
A legacy spanning decades, South Carolina’s reputation as an automotive powerhouse is accelerating full speed ahead. Automotive was one of the state’s leading industries in 2024, with $1.3 billion in announced capital investment. The industry continues to dominate South Carolina’s exports as well. South Carolina led the nation in exports of completed passenger vehicles, with $10.9 billion in export sales. For the 10th consecutive year, the state also led the nation in the export of tires, with sales reaching $1.8 billion – representing 36.5 percent of the total U.S. market share.
More than 600 automotive-related companies, ranging from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tire manufacturers to a diverse network of suppliers, call the Palmetto State home. Earlier this year, South Carolina welcomed its sixth OEM, Isuzu North America Corporation. The global supplier of commercial vehicles announced in February 2025 it selected Greenville County to establish the company’s new U.S. production base. Creating more than 700 new jobs, this state-of-the-art assembly plant will produce both internal combustion engine and electric vehicles.
South Carolina also boasts an extensive automotive supplier ecosystem that continues to thrive. In 2024, several suppliers with long legacies in South Carolina, including BENTELER Automotive Corporation and Magna International, announced significant expansions totaling nearly $250 million in combined capital investment. The state also welcomed ElringKlinger Group, a manufacturer of electric battery cell systems, that announced a Pickens County operation in June 2024. The new facility will become the company’s U.S. hub for battery product manufacturing and create 115 new jobs.
In 2024, several of South Carolina’s legacy automotive manufacturers marked major milestones, including Michelin North America, Inc. (Michelin), which celebrated 50 years of operations in the state. Since establishing its South Carolina presence, Michelin has played a pivotal role in creating jobs, strengthening communities and driving innovation. Today, the company operates 15 facilities and employs nearly 10,000 people across the Palmetto State. Additionally, BMW Manufacturing celebrated 30 years of operations at Plant Spartanburg, the company’s most productive plant globally. Since 1994, BMW has invested more than $13 billion in the Palmetto State and employs more than 11,000 South Carolinians.
A Flightpath of Success
With more than 500 aerospace-related companies in South Carolina employing more than 143,000 people, the state’s aerospace industry is soaring to new heights with an estimated economic impact of $28.8 billion. In 2024, aircraft and parts were South Carolina’s second largest export commodity, with a total value of $6.2 billion.
Boeing’s South Carolina operations play a significant role in the success of the aerospace industry. In 2009, Boeing established its Charleston County operations, and for more than a decade, Boeing South Carolina has been the home of the full 787 Dreamliner production cycle. To build upon its legacy in the Lowcountry, Boeing announced plans in December 2024 to invest $1 billion in its Charleston County campuses, doubling the company’s production rate and creating 500 new jobs.
South Carolina is also the global home of the F-16 Fighting Falcon production line with Lockheed Martin’s Greenville plant delivering advanced F-16 fighter jets. In August 2024, the company celebrated its 40th anniversary in Greenville County. Today, the company employs more than 1,800 South Carolinians, and its Upstate campus spans 275 acres.
Growing a Legacy in Agribusiness
South Carolina’s agribusiness industry is flourishing with an economic impact of more than $51.8 billion. Agribusiness employs nearly 260,000 South Carolinians and attracted more than $480 million in capital investment in 2024.
Homegrown, family-owned agribusiness companies find that South Carolina is the place to grow and thrive. In December 2024, Senn Brothers Produce, a family-owned produce distributor based in South Carolina, announced a new cold storage facility in Jasper County. Senn Brothers Produce was founded in 1944 and delivers fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables sourced from local farmers and producers.
South Carolina’s agribusiness industry is also anchored by several well-known global companies. Nestlé USA, the producer of leading brands including Stouffer’s, Nestlé Toll House, Coffee-mate and more, established South Carolina operations in 1980 and announced further enhancements to its Cherokee County facility in November 2024. Additionally, Spartanburg County is home to Keurig Dr Pepper’s coffee roasting and K-Cup pod packaging facility. In September 2024, the company announced it would grow its operations to host production for the next-generation K-Rounds, plastic-free coffee pods.
In South Carolina, it is clear manufacturing and agribusiness go hand in hand; growth and success in one sector lead to prosperity in the other. For example, Meyn America, a leader in poultry processing solutions, established South Carolina operations in 2023 with a distribution center for its equipment. In December 2024, the company deepened its commitment to the Palmetto State by relocating its Americas’ manufacturing center and corporate offices from Georgia to Oconee County.
Powering the Future
As industries flourish, so does the need for innovative resilient energy sources. Recognizing this growing demand, South Carolina convened the South Carolina Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS) in 2023, which was later named one of 31 federally designated tech hubs by the U.S. Department of Commerce. SC NEXUS focuses on strengthening national security and economic competitiveness through advanced energy innovation. In July 2024, SC NEXUS was one of only 12 tech hubs in the nation to receive federal funding, totaling $45 million.
As the state rapidly emerges as a national leader in advanced energy, SC NEXUS continues collaborating with more than 50 partners to validate, scale and deploy transformative technologies that are critical to both economic growth and national security. The tech hub is working to develop real-world testbeds that will bring advanced energy solutions to market faster, elevating South Carolina’s reputation as a destination for energy innovation.
Why South Carolina?
When you invest in South Carolina, you grow – as a business, a person and a community. The state’s rapidly growing population, world-class business environment and skilled workforce pipeline provide businesses from all industries with the resources needed to thrive. When companies select South Carolina, they are well-positioned to achieve long-term success.
The Palmetto State is not only a top destination for business, but also consistently ranks as a leading tourist destination and a top state for domestic migration. The state’s breathtaking landscapes and affordable cost of living continue to attract a growing number of new residents and industries alike. With an unbeatable quality of life, South Carolina affords residents the opportunity to work where they love living. T&ID
Resources
The following are resources to learn more about doing business in South Carolina:
• SC NEXUS (www.sccommerce.com/scnexus) South Carolina’s federally designated tech hub aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and national energy security. SC NEXUS offers companies and entrepreneurs the perfect environment to develop, test and deploy exportable electricity technologies.
• SCpowersEV (www.scpowersev.com) An online resource for companies pursuing EV operations, this tool provides a one-stop-shop for the EV industry to learn how South Carolina is evolving the future by powering EVs.
• LocateSC (www.locatesc.sccommerce.com) An online site selection tool used to promote business relocation and expansion. This user-friendly platform includes property listings and workforce data for businesses, site selectors, realtors and other economic development stakeholders.
• readySC (www.readysc.org) A valuable tool used to promote economic development and provide companies customized recruiting and training solutions. As an integral part of the South Carolina Technical College System, readySC works with 16 technical colleges to prepare the state’s workforce to meet any company’s needs.
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