The Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV) production facility in Charleston, South Carolina, stands as the sole Mercedes-Benz van manufacturing hub in the United States. Since its inception in Ladson in 2006, this pivotal plant has been instrumental in assembling over 400,000 Metris, Sprinter, and eSprinter vans. These vehicles are crucial for meeting the demands of the US and Canadian markets, establishing the U.S. as the second-largest global market for Sprinter vans, trailing only Germany.
In a significant move to bolster its production capabilities, MBV Charleston undertook a substantial expansion in 2018, injecting over $500 million into the facility. This investment facilitated the integration of a state-of-the-art Body Shop, a Paint Shop, and an extension to the existing Assembly Shop. This expansion marked a pivotal shift, enabling full, part-by-part assembly of both the Metris and Sprinter van models directly within the South Carolina plant.
The year 2021 marked a milestone as the plant celebrated 15 years of operation in South Carolina, commemorating its legacy of SKD (semi-knockdown) production. The momentum continued into 2022, with the plant achieving production of its 100,000th part-by-part Sprinter van. Further solidifying its importance, 2023 saw the facility reach a record-breaking production milestone, assembling over 50,000 vans in a single year.
MBV Charleston’s strategic importance within the Mercedes-Benz global network was further underscored when it was selected as the pioneering plant for producing the all-new eSprinter van. This decision brought an additional investment of nearly $60 million to the South Carolina facility. eSprinter production commenced in January 2024, and within a mere four months, the team celebrated the production of the 1,000th electric van, demonstrating rapid and efficient integration of electric vehicle manufacturing.
Today, the Mercedes-Benz plant south carolina is a major employer, providing jobs for over 1,600 team members. Beyond its direct workforce, the plant also supports at least 500 additional on-site positions through supplier partnerships. The broader economic impact is estimated to extend to approximately 15,000 jobs within the region, encompassing suppliers and service providers. Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston is deeply committed to its local community, having contributed over $2,100,000 to local non-profits and schools through STEM programs since 2006, alongside over 1,100 hours of employee volunteer work, reinforcing its role as a vital economic engine and community partner in South Carolina.
