Volvo begins construction on their first United States plant, will build the next

Gov. Nikki Haley and Volvo’s North American CEO Lex Kerssemakers are scheduled to attend the groundbreaking at the plant site at midday on Friday.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks during the ground breaking for Volvo’s first auto assembly plant in North America, Friday, September 25, 2015, near Ridgeville, S.C. The company announced that the $500 million plant will make its new S60 sedan, which is now under development in Sweden. The 2015 model of the S60 is shown above.

The South Carolina factory is expected to be up and running by late 2018.

The next generation Volvo S60 is announced by the company to be manufactured and exported globally from the US.

Kerssemakers said customers will be able to order vehicles and come by the plant to pick them up. “The United States is a cornerstone in Volvo Cars’ global expansion plan and together with a whole range of new cars in the coming years, this new plant will play a vital role in growing our presence in the United States”. The remaining land will be reserved for Volvo suppliers or other automotive or industrial companies. A muddy, semi-flooded expanse of land had been cleared of trees.

The massive site stretched out for acres next to several white tents where Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen.

The plant about 30 miles northwest of Charleston will eventually be capable of making 100,000 cars a year. Volvo Cars estimates that the factory will employ up to 2,000 people over the next decade and up to 4,000 people in the longer term.