In March 2015, Mercedes-Benz Vans doubled down on its commitment to South Carolina, announcing plans to invest $500 million in a new van manufacturing plant. This week, approximately three-and-a-half years after that milestone announcement, we gathered in North Charleston for the official grand opening of the facility.
Expected to generate 1,300 additional jobs in the Lowcountry, this new operation is a testament to the highly-skilled workforce we have here in the Palmetto State. Mercedes-Benz Vans has actually operated an assembly facility in North Charleston since 2006. The track record established by the company's workers undoubtedly played an important role in its decision to expand the Mercedes-Benz Vans footprint in South Carolina.
The German automaker likely recognized what countless customers around the world have come to know. When a product rolls off an assembly line in our state, it carries a certain reputation. Customers know that things made in South Carolina are top-quality and are produced in a first-class manner. For proof of this, look no further than yesterday's announcement that Amazon is increasing its Sprinter van order from 5,000 to 20,000.
In the months and years to come, as Mercedes-Benz Vans continues to ramp up production at its new North Charleston plant, I look forward to seeing all that our remarkable workforce will achieve. After all, their sterling reputation has allowed South Carolina to become a true industry powerhouse, home to some of the world's most-respected brands.