FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Joel Sawyer
803-734-2100
[email protected] 

   


North Charleston, S.C. - November 28, 2005 - Gov. Mark Sanford announced today that the world's largest commercial vehicle producer, DaimlerChrysler, has selected North Charleston, S.C. as the site for its new Dodge Sprinter van assembly plant. The company will initially invest $35 million and employ 220 when the plant produces its first van in the final quarter of 2006. This is part one of a three-phase plan by the company that upon culmination could create 1800 jobs and $435 million in
investment. Employment levels at the company's current location in Gaffney will not be affected by this announcement.

"We've said from day one that targeting and growing our state's automotive sector is one of this administration's top economic development priorities," said Gov. Mark Sanford.  "Like I-CAR in Greenville, this is another major step forward on that front. With the Department of Commerce, we're going to keep working to accelerate the pace of growth in our economy by continuing to bring quality companies and jobs home to South Carolina."

Dr. Rolf Bartke, head of Daimler Chrysler's Mercedes-Benz vans business unit, pointed to the hands-on involvement by state officials and easy access to the Port of Charleston as major reasons why South Carolina was the winner of an extremely competitive site selection process. 

"Our company was tirelessly pursued by South Carolina's leaders, which helped to make the state a clear winner in our site selection process," Bartke said.  "Governor Mark Sanford along with Commerce Secretary Bob Faith and his hardworking team at the South Carolina Department of Commerce pursued our company with diligence and determination to bring our jobs to their state.  Recognizing how critical relationships are in business, Governor Sanford and Secretary Faith made every effort to build relationships with senior leaders in our company and to communicate
that South Carolina wanted to be a partner in our success."

"This project has the potential to be a key driver in South Carolina's economic engine as well as a huge step toward continuing to build our automotive cluster.  Ultimately, that's going to mean additional jobs, capital investment and economic opportunities for our state," said Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith. 
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