Scout Motors Inc. (“Scout”) announced on March 3 that it has chosen a site near Columbia, South Carolina, to manufacture its all-electric, next-generation vehicles. These trucks and rugged SUVs are designed in the spirit of the iconic Scout vehicles produced from 1960 to 1980. Scout’s $2 billion investment has potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs and, at full capacity, the facility could produce more than 200,000 vehicles annually. 

JLL’s Greg Lubar and Matt Jackson led the national site selection process. The JLL team spent nine months analyzing sites in more than a dozen states to identify locations with the right combination of technical specifications, proximity to strong talent and access to critical infrastructure.

“We’re honored to partner with South Carolina as we start a new era for Scout,” said Scott Keogh, President & CEO of Scout Motors. “We reviewed 74 sites with JLL, and Blythewood quickly rose to the top. If you look at the infrastructure and logistics capabilities around Columbia, South Carolina, the quantity and talent levels of the state labor force and the willingness of state officials to be collaborative business partners, the decision to locate Scout in South Carolina becomes the obvious choice. We’re grateful for the support that JLL provided to Scout along the way.”

The 1,600-acre site, less than 20 miles north of Columbia, is between I-77 and Blythewood Road. Located at the seat of the state capital and proximate to Charleston, Charlotte, Greenville and Atlanta, the location provides access to a highly skilled labor force, universities focused on automotive engineering, major highways, international air travel, ports and rail. 

“Scout was looking for a place they could call home in a vibrant community with a dynamic workforce, and this location was the perfect fit,” said Lubar, JLL Vice Chairman. “We’re pleased to congratulate the entire Scout team on this major milestone in the launch of their company,” 

Jackson, JLL Executive Managing Director, added, “The continued growth of the automobile sector in South Carolina made the state a strong contender, and we were impressed by how the state and county-level government worked hand-in-hand with us to make this happen.”

Scout plans to break ground in mid-2023 and begin production by the end of 2026.

JLL | jll.com

Scout Motors | www.scoutmotors.com