AUTOMOTIVE DRIVING THE FUTURE OF THE UPSTATE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY South Carolina understands what drives the automotive industry. Home to BMW’s largest production facility in the world, the industry continues to grow with announcements from Volvo and Daimler Trucks to build assembly plants in the state. With a high concentration of engineering talent and cluster of automotive companies, Upstate South Carolina has become one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for automotive production and research. From the Upstate, automotive companies can reach more than 16 OEMs in a day’s drive. ABOUT UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA Located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, the Upstate connects two of the largest cities in the Southeastern United States: Charlotte and Atlanta. The Upstate is home to some of the world’s most forward thinking companies, including world leaders in the development and application of cutting-edge technologies in a multitude of industries, and provides an unmatched quality of life to its 1.43 million residents. BMW Manufacturing Employing more than 8,000 associates to produce the X3, X4, X5, X6 and adding 100,000 units of capacity to build the X7, making BMW Plant Spartanburg the company’s largest in the world. To date, BMW has invested over $7 billion in Upstate South Carolina. Michelin Michelin’s presence in the Upstate began in 1973 with its first United States production facility. Since then Michelin has established multiple Upstate locations, including its North American headquarters, training facility, research facility, test track, and five production facilities. ZF Group ZF’s largest U.S. facility produces fuel-efficient 8 and 9-speed automatic transmissions for the passenger car and light truck market. At 1.4 million square feet and with more than 2,400 employees, the plant supports the production of approximately 800,000 transmission a year. BMW Manufacturing Michelin North America Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) International Transportation Innovation Center (iTiC) automotive exporter in the United States by value BMW Manufacturing 2016
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AUTOMOTIVE DRIVING THE FUTURE OF THE UPSTATE
ABOUT THE INDUSTRY South Carolina understands what drives the automotive industry. Home
to BMW’s largest production facility in the world, the industry continues to
grow with announcements from Volvo and Daimler Trucks to build assembly
plants in the state. With a high concentration of engineering talent and
cluster of automotive companies, Upstate South Carolina has become
one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for automotive production and
research. From the Upstate, automotive companies can reach more than
16 OEMs in a day’s drive.
ABOUT UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA
Located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, the Upstate
connects two of the largest cities in the Southeastern United States:
Charlotte and Atlanta. The Upstate is home to some of the world’s most
forward thinking companies, including world leaders in the development
and application of cutting-edge technologies in a multitude of industries,
and provides an unmatched quality of life to its 1.43 million residents.
BMW Manufacturing Employing more than 8,000 associates to produce the X3, X4, X5, X6 and adding 100,000 units of capacity to build the X7, making BMW Plant Spartanburg the company’s largest in the world. To date, BMW has invested over $7 billion in Upstate South Carolina.
Michelin Michelin’s presence in the Upstate began in 1973 with its first United States production facility. Since then Michelin has established multiple Upstate locations, including its North American headquarters, training facility, research facility, test track, and five production facilities.
ZF Group ZF’s largest U.S. facility produces fuel-efficient 8 and 9-speed automatic transmissions for the passenger car and light truck market. At 1.4 million square feet and with more than 2,400 employees, the plant supports the production of approximately 800,000 transmission a year.
BMW Manufacturing
Michelin North America
Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)
International Transportation Innovation Center (iTiC)
automotive exporter in the United States by valueBMW Manufacturing 2016
AutomotiveInUpstateSC.com CONNECT WITH USThe Upstate SC Alliance is a public/private regional economic development organization designed to market and brand the Upstate South Carolina Region to the world. Let our Business Recruitment Team assist your company in finding the perfect location, gathering critical market intelligence and making business connections.
TRAINING AND INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Research & Engineering TalentClemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is a 250-acre advanced-
technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate.
CU-ICAR, offering both Masters and PhD programs in Automotive Engineering, is training the next
generation of automotive engineers with a curriculum driven by industry needs.
CU-ICAR is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas such as advanced product
development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced
materials. They have industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities
available for commercial use by partnering automotive companies.
The International Transportation Innovation Center (iTiC) develops premier technology testbeds to
support all forms of mobility innovations, including zero-emission, automated and connected vehicles
and systems. iTiC provides automakers, technology suppliers, research universities, and startups the
ability to test and develop their innovations in open and/or closed testbed environments.
CNBC ranks South Carolina’s workforce as the 5th best in the nation, based on quality, availability of
workers and workforce training. This comes as no surprise as the 10-county Upstate encompasses
a population of more than 1.43 million and has grown at a rate of 10% since 2000. South Carolina is
also a right-to-work state and has one of the lowest unionization rates in the nation.
Manufacturing & Technical TalentThe Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) is a collaboration between a leading research university,
an innovative technical college and manufacturers to create a center that enhances the development
and implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies. The primary goal for CMI is to increase
the number of skilled workers to close the skills gap in manufacturing by offering curriculum designed
to meet industry needs. CMI will feature the first of its kind manufacturing honors college as well as
incubation space for start-ups.
Recent Automotive AnnouncementsMichelin North America Michelin North America plans to open a $270 million, 3.3 million-square-foot distribution center in
Spartanburg County that will create 350 new jobs in late 2017.
Brose North America Brose North America, a technological leader in mechatronics, plans to open a manufacturing facility
in Spartanburg in the fall of 2017. The nearly $6 million investment will create more than 60 new
jobs to produce door systems and systems for on-demand control of cooling air supply for Brose’s
automotive customers.
Tower International Tower International, a leading integrated global manufacturer of engineered structural metal
components and assemblies, is investing $75 million in a new facility, creating 140 jobs in Greenville
County. The facility is expected to open in September of 2017.
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, the world’s largest supplier of automotive interior components, is
establishing operations in Laurens County. The new development is expected to bring $71 million of
new capital investment and lead to the creation of 35 new jobs.
“The Spartanburg distribution facility will cap a multi-
year evolution of Michelin’s network in North America.
We see it as a transformational milestone designed to
better serve our customers while optimizing inventories
