A Conversation with Dr. Jan Spies, Scout Motors

In March of 2024, Scout Motors announced that were investing a record-setting $2 billion to establish a manufacturing operation in the Columbia, SC region. They will be building all-electric trucks and rugged SUVs in the same tradition that made the original Scout an American icon. The company’s investment into this region has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. We chatted with Dr. Jan Spies, the Chief Production Officer at Scout Motors about their decision to locate in the Midlands of South Carolina and how they are looking to engage and hire talent right here in the Midlands. Spies is leading manufacturing of Scout Motors’ vehicles and is overseeing the launch of its new Production Center. This conversation ties in nicely with the recent 2024 Elevate Midlands Report that was recently published. The report analyses Columbia, SC's long-term trends and compares them directly to trends in other cities in the Southeast region.