Scout Motors and readySC have opened a $25 million workforce training center on the site of the company’s electric vehicle production facility in Blythewood, South Carolina. The facility will serve as the primary hub for hiring and skills development as Scout ramps toward its targeted 2027 production start for the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Funding for the center comes from readySC, the workforce development arm of the South Carolina Technical College System.
Highlights
- $25 million training center co-located with Scout’s $2 billion Production Center in Blythewood
- Funded by readySC and the South Carolina Technical College System
- Scout has hired more than 600 people in South Carolina and nearly 1,400 company-wide
- Production Center expected to support more than 4,000 jobs at full ramp
A Workforce Pipeline Built for EV Manufacturing
The training center is positioned as the onboarding and upskilling hub for Scout’s South Carolina operations. It is designed to align curriculum with advanced manufacturing requirements ahead of vehicle output, including body-in-white, paint, and final assembly disciplines specific to Scout’s body-on-frame EV platform.
The facility opens at a moment when Scout’s Blythewood production complex is closing in on mechanical completion across more than 5 million square feet of buildings. The company said equipment installation is now underway across its main facilities, and hiring has begun for early production and maintenance roles.
Scale of the Carolinas Footprint
Scout’s South Carolina commitment exceeds $2 billion and is projected to support more than 4,000 direct manufacturing jobs at full ramp. The training center adds a permanent workforce-development layer to that footprint and complements Scout’s Charlotte corporate headquarters, which will house an additional 1,200-plus positions.
Executive Comments
Scott Keogh, President and CEO of Scout Motors, framed the investment as a long-term workforce strategy.
“This Training Center represents a promise: If you show up ready to build something great, we will give you modern tools, real coaching, and clear pathways to growth,” Keogh said. “At Scout Motors, we don’t see the American worker as a cost to remove — we see people as an asset to invest in. The careers that begin here will support families, strengthen communities, and equip generations of South Carolinians with valuable new skills.”
Dr. Tim Hardee, President of the SC Technical College System, said the partnership is designed to deliver durable career outcomes, not transactional job placements.
“Every person who walks through these doors is stepping into more than a job. They are gaining skills that lead to real careers, the ability to support their families, and the opportunity to change what’s possible for the next generation,” Hardee said. “This Training Center is an investment in brick and mortar, but its real impact extends far beyond these walls, and that is the true return on investment.”
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Congressman Joe Wilson also attended the opening event.
Production Timeline
Scout has now hired more than 600 people in South Carolina and nearly 1,400 across the company. Construction is advancing on more than 5 million square feet of buildings at the Blythewood site, with equipment installation underway in all main facilities. The company said it plans to begin building early design-validation prototype vehicles later this year, followed by a gradual ramp toward full production. Initial customer production is targeted for 2027.
Candidate information is available through Scout’s careers page and through readySC’s recruitment portal at scoutmotors.sctechjobs.com.
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