ATLANTA — An auto parts supplier will build a $120 million factory on a Norfolk Southern-served industrial development property in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, the railroad announced this week.
The new SODECIA AAPICO Joint Venture plant will produce ladder frames for electric vehicle manufacturer Scout Motors. The 400,000-square-foot facility at the Tri-County Global Industrial Site will create nearly 400 jobs.
The companies plan to break ground on Dec. 8, with completion of construction eyed for 2027 and production expected to begin in March 2028.
“We’re proud to have been on the recruitment team for this project and look forward to helping SODECIA AAPICO serve our joint customer, Scout Motors,” Craig Hudson, Norfolk Southern’s group vice president of industrial development, said in a statement. “This investment strengthens the growing automotive supply chain taking shape across South Carolina, and we’re grateful to have strong partnerships with state and local economic development leaders – like the Orangeburg County Economic Development Commission – to bring these quality projects to life.”
Scout Motors is building an assembly plant in nearby Blythewood, S.C., and expects to begin production in late 2026. The company, which is owned by Volkswagen, is reviving the Scout brand that was founded in 1959 by International Harvester.
“This announcement marks another important milestone as we work to build a robust, local supply chain for Scout Motors,” Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh said in a statement.
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