Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV Charleston) stands as the sole production facility for Mercedes-Benz Vans within the United States. Located in Ladson, South Carolina, this plant has been a cornerstone of van manufacturing since 2006. Over these years, the facility has successfully assembled more than 400,000 Metris, Sprinter, and eSprinter vans. These vehicles are not only distributed across the U.S. but also shipped to Canada, marking the United States as the second-largest market for Sprinter vans globally, just behind Germany.
Image of Mercedes-Benz Vans production line
In a significant move to enhance its capabilities, MBV Charleston underwent a substantial expansion in 2018, with an investment exceeding 500 million U.S. dollars. This expansion was pivotal, introducing a comprehensive Body Shop, a state-of-the-art Paint Shop, and an extension to the existing Assembly Shop. These additions enabled the plant to achieve full part-by-part assembly for both Metris and Sprinter vans, marking a new era in its production process.
The South Carolina plant reached a significant milestone in 2021, celebrating 15 years of SKD (semi-knockdown) production. This anniversary underscored its long-term commitment to manufacturing excellence in the region. The following year, in 2022, the facility marked another achievement with the production of its 100,000th part-by-part Sprinter van, highlighting the efficiency and scale of its operations. Continuing its trajectory of growth, 2023 saw the plant achieve a record-setting year, assembling over 50,000 vans, a testament to its increasing production capacity.
Image of Mercedes-Benz eSprinter production
MBV Charleston’s prominence within the Mercedes-Benz Vans global network was further cemented when it was chosen as the pioneering plant to produce the all-new eSprinter van. This decision brought with it an additional investment of nearly $60 million U.S. dollars, dedicated to equipping the facility for electric vehicle production. Production of the eSprinter commenced in January 2024, and within just four months, the team at MBV Charleston celebrated the production of the 1,000th eSprinter van, demonstrating rapid adaptation and success in the electric vehicle sector.
Today, the Mercedes-Benz South Carolina plant is a major employer in the region, with over 1,600 team members directly employed. Beyond direct employment, it supports at least 500 additional on-site jobs through its network of suppliers. The broader economic impact is even more substantial, with an estimated 15,000* jobs supported within the wider region through suppliers and service providers. Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston also demonstrates a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, having contributed over $2,100,000 to local non-profits and schools since 2006, with a focus on STEM programs. Furthermore, team members have volunteered over 1,100 hours to community initiatives, reinforcing the plant’s integration and positive impact on South Carolina.
*Based on estimates from the Economic Policy Institute that every direct job in vehicle manufacturing supports 9.4 additional American jobs.
(Note: Please replace “original_image_url_1.jpg” and “original_image_url_2.jpg” with actual image URLs and create appropriate alt texts based on the image content. As no images were provided in the original text, these are placeholders.)
Example of Alt Text Creation (if images were provided):
For “original_image_url_1.jpg” (assuming it shows a Sprinter van production line):
alt="Sprinter Van Assembly Line at Mercedes-Benz South Carolina Plant: showcasing the efficient production process of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans at the Charleston facility."
For “original_image_url_2.jpg” (assuming it shows eSprinter vans being produced):
alt="Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Production at South Carolina Plant: highlighting the manufacturing of electric eSprinter vans at the MBV Charleston plant, a leader in EV van production."
