Volvo Cars opened its first USA manufacturing plant near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 20, 2018, and unveiled the new S60 sedan that would be the first Volvo built in the USA.
The plant
- Volvo said it was investing around $1.1 billion in its USA manufacturing operations and would create about 4,000 jobs at the site over the coming years, with about 1,500 employed by the end of 2018.
- S60 production was scheduled to start in fall 2018, with the next-generation XC90 SUV to follow from 2021.
- The site covers 1,600 acres, with 2.3 million square feet of buildings and capacity for 150,000 cars a year. Construction began in 2015.
- Cars from the plant were planned for both the USA market and export.
“The Charleston plant establishes the US as our third home market,” said Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars’ president and chief executive. The company called the move part of its “Build where you sell” strategy.
Fox News noted that Volvo, owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding since 2010, joined BMW and Mercedes-Benz among European premium brands with factories in the American Southeast, partly to limit exposure to import tariffs and currency swings. Volvo Car USA CEO Anders Gustafsson told Fox News the plant would export cars worldwide, including to Sweden.
FAQ
Where is the plant?
Near Charleston, South Carolina. It opened on June 20, 2018.
What does it build?
The S60 sedan from fall 2018, with the next XC90 SUV planned from 2021.
How many jobs were planned?
About 4,000 over the coming years, Volvo said.
Source & credit
Source: Volvo Cars: “Volvo Cars expands global manufacturing footprint with first US factory”, June 20, 2018.
Also: Fox News: “Volvo unveils its first American-made car at new South Carolina factory”.