Combining roots in automotive excellence with a collaborative, results-driven ecosystem, industry leaders are solving tomorrow's challenges today in Upstate South Carolina. At the heart of one of the country's fastest-growing megaregions, this 10-county region offers a skilled workforce and one of the nation's most business-friendly environments.
Upstate South Carolina
An automotive production and research powerhouse, Upstate South Carolina is home to some of the world's most forward-thinking companies, including Michelin, ZF, Bosch, Magna, BorgWarner and Proterra. As the site of BMW AG's largest production plant in the world, the cluster continues to grow with announcements from Volvo and Mercedes-Benz Vans to build assembly plants in the state. Companies within the region's automotive ecosystem can reach more than 16 automakers in a day's drive.
The Upstate has four times as many automotive workers as the national average, and its pipeline is growing thanks to industry-focused training and development strategies. From primary-school STEM initiatives to advanced manufacturing programs offered by the region's four technical colleges, the Upstate is inspiring and training the automotive workforce of the future. It's bolstered by the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), an advanced-technology research campus that is home to the nation's first graduate department of automotive engineering.
Consistently ranked as one of the country's best destinations for business and travel, the Upstate has something for everyone: a vibrant restaurant scene, a wide range of cultural activities, Broadway musicals, college football, scenic lakes and mountains for recreational activities. The region's 1.4 million residents enjoy excellent health care, high-quality schools and a cost of living that's 10 percent lower than the national average.
Upstate industries thrive thanks to a business-friendly environment and access to resources such as the CU-ICAR, whose researchers work alongside companies to solve auto industry challenges. For companies interested in exploring new business operations in the United States, the Upstate SC Alliance provides support as the go-to resource for market insights, regional data, available sites and data comparing the Upstate to other regions under consideration.
Upstate SC Alliance, +1-864-283-2300, upstateSCalliance.com
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