Auto seat maker opening $30M manufacturing plant at Scout Motors site

COLUMBIA — A seat maker for cars is the latest Scout Motors supplier to announce a South Carolina location.

Brose Sitech, which makes car seats and interior parts, plans to open in the supplier park on the site of Scout’s Blythewood electric vehicle assembly plant.

“When we announced we would build an on-site Supplier Park at the Scout Motors Production Center last year, we promised it would lead to even more jobs, investment and economic prosperity in South Carolina,” Scout’s CEO Scott Keogh said in a statement. “This announcement represents the beginning of that promise being fulfilled.”

The Polish company, which has a regional headquarters in Detroit, pledged to hire some 330 new workers for its $30 million, 140,000-square-foot facility. The Blythewood location joins the company’s fleet of 22 global manufacturing plants internationally.

The company did not give an average wage or any other details on what it plans to pay employees.

“Establishing our first manufacturing location in Blythewood is an important milestone for Brose Sitech,” Executive Vice President Juan-Carlos Kieler said in a statement.

“The U.S. is a significant automotive market with strong opportunities for future growth. With our new production facility, we are bringing our expertise in complete seating systems closer to our customer Scout while laying the foundation for Brose Sitech’s long-term development in North America,” Kieler added.

The company expects to begin operations in 2027.

The announcement comes just two weeks after seven existing Upstate auto parts makers pledged to hire 200 South Carolinians as they expand production to meet the needs of Scout.

“The decision by Brose Sitech to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in South Carolina is a testament to the momentum created by Scout Motors’ historic investment in the Midlands,” U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said in a statement. “This announcement is another important step in the growth of South Carolina’s automotive industry, and I look forward to the jobs, investment and long-term economic opportunities it will create for communities across our state.”

Other announcements

It also marks the second new jobs announcement in Richland County in two days.

SteelFab Inc. announced Tuesday it planned to invest $30 million and hire 100 people in Richland County.

The company will move into an existing manufacturing plant, previously occupied by Metso Minerals, which makes equipment for mining and processing minerals.

Upstate car parts manufacturers investing $82M to supply Scout Motors

In exchange, the state offered SteelFab income tax credits, worth $1,500 for each new job created.

The plant marks Charlotte-headquartered SteelFab’s fifth South Carolina location. Operations are expected to begin by the end of the year.

Headquartered in Charlotte, SteelFab engineers, manufactures and supplies fabricated structural steel and steel products.

The company has 18 facilities in the U.S., including four existing locations in South Carolina.

“This investment represents another significant milestone in SteelFab’s continued growth and commitment to South Carolina,” Chief Operating Officer Rob Rutherford said in a statement. “For nearly four decades, we have been proud to be part of South Carolina’s manufacturing community, and the establishment of our new Columbia facility builds on that strong foundation.”