Overview
- Scout confirmed the South Carolina factory’s cost has climbed from an initially budgeted $2 billion to $3 billion, calling the earlier figure a guaranteed minimum investment.
- A $300 million on-site supplier park is a key driver of the increase, with plans for battery assembly and vehicle customization on nearly 200 acres and an expected 1,000 additional jobs without new state incentives.
- South Carolina’s Department of Commerce attributed roughly $150 million in added costs to unexpected permitting, remedial measures and excessive rainfall that delayed the schedule.
- Preorders for the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV have topped 150,000, and CEO Scott Keogh said roughly 85 percent of reservation holders prefer range-extender versions, though all reservations are fully refundable.
- Production remains slated to begin in 2027 at Blythewood as dealer lawsuits over direct sales continue and local officials face scrutiny over a previously approved $1.3 billion incentive package and reported $60 million in environmental mitigation.