Electric vehicle microfactory to bring 240 jobs to Rock Hill

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — An electric vehicle microfactory is coming to York County, which will bring hundreds of new jobs.

The electric vehicle company, Arrival, announced Monday it will establish its first U.S. microfactory in Rock Hill, York County Economic Development officials said.

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“We couldn’t be happier that Arrival has decided to build zero-emissions EVs right here in South Carolina," Gov. Henry McMaster said. "It speaks volumes to our business-friendly climate and well-trained workforce, and we look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

The factory will make electric buses and create 240 jobs. Operations will start in the middle of 2021 and production is set to begin by the end of that year.

Founded in 2015 and based in London, England, Arrival works with cities around the world to create zero-emission mobility solutions for today’s transportation challenges. The company’s South Carolina operations will utilize a new cell-based assembly method to produce vehicles rather than a traditional automotive production line, allowing the production of any vehicle from Arrival’s portfolio. With this model, Arrival occupies a smaller footprint, hence the name “Microfactory.” The Microfactory design is key to Arrival’s approach to bringing down the cost of EVs to accelerate mass adoption.

“On behalf of the Rock Hill City Council, we are pleased to welcome Arrival to our good town," said Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys. "Another successful business offering good-paying jobs and choosing to locate in our city is a testament to the ongoing investment in our infrastructure and the hard work and vision of Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation members. This company’s presence in Rock Hill will continue to build a world-class economy for our All-America City.”

Anyone interested in joining the Arrival team should visit here.