Blythewood, South Carolina
Welcome to the first of our monthly progress updates on the construction of our new Scout Motors Production Center. In March 2023, we unveiled our plan for Scout Motors to build our new Scout vehicles at a state-of-the-art factory to be built in Blythewood, South Carolina. The site which spans a vast 1,100 acres is strategically located about 20 minutes north and east of Columbia, South Carolina. This substantial $2–billion investment is set to revolutionize the region, creating over 4,000 permanent jobs. At peak capacity, we plan to produce 200,000 vehicles a year at the Production Center – that’s 40 per hour. We are thrilled to share our progress with you as construction continues.
The new Scout vehicles will be built on a newly designed body-on-frame electric vehicle platform. As you can see in the photo above, our Production Center’s main structures include a body shop, a paint shop, and final assembly buildings. The site also features a state-of-the-art training center for our employees and a technology center to support our future vehicles.
May 2024 Update
Over the past year, substantial work needed to be done to prepare the grounds for actual factory building construction. This involved extensive work such as grading the property flat, stabilizing the soil, relocating utilities, and adding upgraded and additional utilities. In total, more than 4 million cubic yards of dirt has been moved to ensure a flat surface pad for future structures. The infrastructure enhancements will continue with the addition of a new highway interchange to facilitate factory-specific traffic and minimize impacts on local traffic and roads. Furthermore, a rail connection will be installed to support shipping needs once production begins.
Several weeks ago, Scout Motors reached a significant milestone when construction started on the physical buildings, with the first foundations and footings poured in concrete (above).
Over the last three weeks, quite a bit of progress has been made in digging the numerous shallow foundation footings that will eventually support the first vertical columns (above).
During the previous week, the first shipment of steel arrived on the construction site as shown in the picture above. The main support structures are scheduled to be erected soon, and the first roof structures will be in place by the end of this fall. We will keep you updated monthly as things progress rapidly over the next two years.
UPDATE – May 15, 2024:
On May 15, 2024, the first vertical steel was erected on the site. This marks a major milestone and the beginning of actual building structure on the site. Stay tuned for significant visible progress over the next month.
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