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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Japan-Based Envision AESC Plans Florence, South Carolina, Gigafactory

12/07/2022
Envision AESC, a world-leading Japanese electric vehicle battery technology company, will build a battery cell gigafactory in Florence, South Carolina. The $810 million project is expected to create 1,170 jobs.

Located in the Technology and Commerce Park the approximately 1.5 million-square-foot facility will support the company’s multi-year partnership with the BMW Group. AESC currently operates a battery manufacturing plant in Tennessee and has a plant under construction in Kentucky.

“Our partnership with Florence County, South Carolina is part of our next phase battery strategy to power next generation EVs in the U.S. This facility is another milestone on our journey to building an electrification network in the U.S. and strengthens our commitment to grow the electrification supply chain while providing high value jobs for the community for years to come. We are making good progress on our ambition to create high-performance, longer-range batteries for a diverse range of automotive manufacturers worldwide to support the EV transition and we’re excited to bring Florence County on this journey with us,” said AESC Group CEO Shoichi Matsumoto.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development, after review and comment by the Joint Bond Review Committee, awarded a $135 million Closing Fund grant to Florence County to assist with costs related to the project, and the state authorized the issuance of up to $70 million in state general economic development bonds to offset the costs of off-site infrastructure and a training center to support the project. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development also awarded job development credits related to this project.

“South Carolina has been an automotive manufacturing powerhouse for over 30 years, and Envision AESC’s decision to establish operations in Florence County and to create jobs for thousands of South Carolinians shows that we will continue to be one for years to come,” noted Governor Henry McMaster. “We have the workforce, business friendly environment, and the willingness to adapt to industry’s innovation necessary to ensure that companies that choose to do business here will find the success they’re looking for.”

Through AIoT-driven innovations in battery technology and multidisciplinary application, Envision AESC establishes scenarios to enable electric vehicles to participate in the renewable energy eco-system, and provides a dynamic balance to promote common development of clean energy and new energy electric vehicle industry.

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