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Volvo breaks ground on $500M manufacturing plant in S.C.

By BRUCE SMITH
A Volvo and shovels are displayed at the ground breaking for Volvo's first auto assembly plant in North America on Friday near Ridgeville, S.C. The company announced that the $500 million plant will make its new S60 sedan, which is currently under development in Sweden. The first cars are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2018.
A Volvo and shovels are displayed at the ground breaking for Volvo's first auto assembly plant in North America on Friday near Ridgeville, S.C. The company announced that the $500 million plant will make its new S60 sedan, which is currently under development in Sweden. The first cars are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2018. Bruce Smith AP
RIDGEVILLE, S.C.

Volvo has broken ground on its first auto manufacturing plant in North America – a $500 million facility in Berkeley County about 30 miles northwest of Charleston.

Volvo North American CEO Lex Kerssemakers (KEHR'-say-may-kurz) announced Friday the plant will build the company’s new S-60 sedan, a car under development in Sweden.

Kerssemakers said the plant will be capable of making 100,000 cars a year. It will also manufacture a second model to be announced later.

He was joined by Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt and other state and local officials at the site off Interstate 26 near Ridgeville.

The ground for the plant has already been cleared. Foundation work begins after the first of the year.

The first car is expected in 2018. Associated Press

This story was originally published September 26, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Volvo breaks ground on $500M manufacturing plant in S.C.."

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