Diamler, the world’s largest commercial vehicle producer, selected Ladson, South Carolina as the site for its new Sprinter van assembly plant. Company officials said that the hands-on involvement by state officials and easy access to the Port of Charleston where the major reasons why South Carolina was the winner of the extremely competitive site selection process. The $35 million investment called for the conversion of the 460,000 square foot building and site occupied by American LaFrance, a subsidiary of Daimler Chrysler’s Freightliner LLC.

The primary design goal for Daimler Chrysler was to modify the facility to accommodate the new Dodge Sprinter assembly equipment and vehicle storage while temporarily sharing the space with the American LaFrance fire truck assembly line, keeping it in full operation during the construction process. This complicated but well-coordinated effort involved relocating existing equipment, building additions and site modifications, new equipment installation, floor and foundation work, and related plumbing, mechanical and electrical system changes.