On the Dash:
- Sodecia and Aapico will invest $120 million in a new Orangeburg facility to supply ladder frames for Scout Motors.
- The plant will open in 2027 and create up to 392 jobs, strengthening South Carolina’s growing automotive supply chain.
- The facility supports Scout’s upcoming Traveler and Terra models and expands the brand’s sourcing network ahead of 2027 production.
A new joint venture between global suppliers Sodecia and Aapico will invest $120 million in a 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to produce ladder frames for Scout Motors.
State officials announced the project on Tuesday, calling it a significant addition to the region’s expanding automotive supply chain. Construction is expected to finish in 2027, and the plant is projected to create up to 392 jobs.
The facility will support Scout Motors’ production center in Blythewood, located about 60 miles north of Orangeburg. Scout plans to begin preproduction builds in 2026 and start full output in late 2027. The new Orangeburg plant will play a central role in that launch by supplying ladder frames for the upcoming Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Both vehicles are being engineered on a body-on-frame platform explicitly designed for the revived brand.
Local officials say the joint venture strengthens the county’s position as an automotive manufacturing hub. Leaders expect the project to attract additional suppliers as Scout Motors expands its operations and more companies invest across the Midlands. The long-term economic ripple effect is likely to extend beyond the nearly 400 direct jobs created at the new facility.
Sodecia, headquartered in Portugal, and Aapico, based in Thailand, first announced the joint venture in May. Industry analysts note that the partnership allows both companies to share financial risk as new EV and extended-range platforms enter the market without federal incentives. Scout’s decision to use a ladder frame structure aligns with its heritage-inspired product strategy, positioning the vehicles directly in competition with established off-road models.
The new supplier is the latest addition to Scout’s growing component network. American Axle and Manufacturing will provide front electric drive units and rear e-Beam axles for the Traveler and Terra. Scout will also use a Volkswagen facility in Mexico to build the engine that will serve as the range extender for its extended-range electric system.
