Scout Motors EV Manufacturing Facility

S&ME has been an integral partner in the development of the Scout Motors electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Blythewood, South Carolina; a transformative project marking a $2 billion investment by Volkswagen’s Scout Motors subsidiary. Since 2015, S&ME has provided extensive environmental and geotechnical services, beginning with due diligence for what was then the Blythewood County Industrial Park and continuing through the site’s acquisition by Scout Motors in 2022.

Working for our client Thomas & Hutton, the end client, Richland County Economic Development, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce, S&ME has supported every stage of the project. From Wetlands Delineation, Permitting and Mitigation and Protected Species Assessments to Cultural Resources Surveys, Geotechnical Explorations, and Construction Materials Testing, our team has contributed to the soon-to-be 1,600-acre site providing technical oversight.

Currently, S&ME is providing full-time observation during the earthmoving phase; the largest such effort east of the Mississippi, and overseeing ground improvements, including the installation of compacted aggregate piers. This state-of-the-art facility will ultimately produce more than 200,000 all-electric trucks and SUVs annually, creating 4,000+ permanent jobs and driving innovation in South Carolina.

Project Highlights

  • Largest earthmoving project east of the Mississippi: 25 million cubic yards of material moved, with cuts up to 60 feet and fills up to 110 feet.
  • Site size: 1,600 acres, with 900 acres dedicated to the manufacturing plant.
  • Facility scale: 11.5 million total square feet of building footprint.
  • Geotechnical: 375 borings and 60 soundings, reaching depths of up to 100 feet, and 13 surface wave arrays completed.
  • Wetlands: ~2,500-acre site including main site and adjacent SCDOT intersection site. Completed an individual permit, public notice, and multiple public hearings, working with EPA, SCDNR, SHPO, SCDOT, and Federal Tribes to receive permit in roughly 230 days.
  • Cultural resources: Comprehensive archaeological and architectural surveys, including Phase I and II assessments and data recovery work.
  • Ground improvements: Compacted aggregate piers to stabilize the site.

From its inception to its groundbreaking, S&ME remains committed to supporting the success of this noteworthy project.

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