This week, four years ago, South Carolina shined in the global spotlight as Mercedes-Benz Vans broke ground in Charleston County on the company's first full van manufacturing plant in North America. Like other industry leaders that have chosen to call our state home, Mercedes-Benz Vans could have established its manufacturing facility anywhere. The company's half-billion-dollar commitment to our state was further testament to what many other organizations operating here have come to know - South Carolina's leading workforce, advanced manufacturing prowess and prime location make the Palmetto State an ideal place to operate.
South Carolina has a winning track record of attracting industry powerhouses and is home to some of the world's most-respected brands. Our reputation began to develop in the mid-1970s, when European heavyweights Bosch and Michelin established operations within our borders. Two decades later, BMW joined the state's business community, transforming the way South Carolina is viewed worldwide.
In the following years, dozens of globally recognized brands in automotive, aerospace, life sciences and other sectors have located in S.C. And, today, more than 1,200 operations of foreign-based firms call South Carolina home.
With this influx of internationally renowned companies, South Carolina has evolved into a true brand state. The world knows that when a product rolls off one of our assembly lines, it is top quality and produced in a first-class manner.
The past few months have made foreign direct investment projects a bit more challenging, as travel restrictions have limited the ability for many of our clients to visit. But, our recruitment efforts continue - albeit in a different fashion with more virtual meetings, videos and conference calls.
Moving forward, as Team South Carolina continues to cultivate our brand as a worldwide leader in industry, we celebrate companies, like Mercedes-Benz Vans, that have blazed a trail in our state. All of Team S.C. recognizes the economic transformation that has taken place, and we are steadfast in our commitment to continued growth in the years to come.