With a high level of innovation and a low cost of doing business, Upstate South Carolina has become one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for automotive production and research, and Cherokee County is nestled among an array of automotive producers.

With BMW Manufacturing Co.’s plant Spartanburg in the neighboring county, automotive suppliers can feel right at home in Cherokee. Here, they’ll find large developable sites that are in close proximity to ongoing automotive research and development at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, with connectivity to Interstate 85 and ability to hire from the Charlotte and Spartanburg markets and everywhere in between.

The Timken Company, a global manufacturer of bearings and related components and assembles with operations in 28 countries, produces roller bearings at its facility in Gaffney. Additionally, two German companies also contribute to the automotive sector in Cherokee. Freightliner Custom Chassis, a Daimler Group, manufactures heavy duty trucks and announced a $22.7 million investment and construction of a new logistics center in 2016. Boysen USA LLC manufactures motor vehicle parts for BMW.