Volvo Cars is putting more weight behind its American operations. The Swedish automaker announced continued investment in its Ridgeville, South Carolina, assembly plant, with the long-term goal of running the facility at full tilt. The move underscores Volvo’s growing reliance on the U.S. market as it reshapes its global manufacturing footprint.

The Ridgeville factory, located just outside Charleston, is no stranger to big numbers. Volvo has poured roughly $1.3 billion into the site over the past decade, equipping it to build multiple models and powertrains on flexible platforms. With an annual installed capacity of 150,000 units, the plant has plenty of room to grow.

For now, Ridgeville churns out the fully electric Volvo EX90 SUV and its performance cousin, the Polestar 3. But that’s only the beginning. In late 2026, the company’s best-seller—the XC60 mid-size SUV—will roll off the South Carolina line for the first time. The timing makes sense: Volvo moved more than 27,000 XC60s in the U.S. through the first eight months of 2025, nearly 20 percent better than a year ago.

“By adding another model into production here, we’ll take a big step toward realising the full potential of our local manufacturing investments and workforce,” said Luis Rezende, Volvo’s president of Americas.

The XC60 is just one piece of the puzzle. Before the end of the decade, Ridgeville will also welcome a next-generation hybrid tailored to U.S. buyers—part of Volvo’s push to regionalize its lineup. The strategy aims to ensure every major market gets vehicles designed around its own priorities, whether that’s electrification, size, or feature mix.

South Carolina officials are more than happy to see the automaker expand its local footprint. “Volvo Cars’ decision to further invest in Ridgeville reinforces South Carolina’s position as a national leader in automotive manufacturing,” said Governor Henry McMaster, praising the strength of the state’s workforce.

Volvo, meanwhile, has reason to stay committed. This year marks 70 years of selling cars in America, with over 5 million delivered since the brand first set up shop stateside. “Our investment plans once again reinforce our long-term commitment to the U.S. market and our manufacturing operations in South Carolina,” said CEO Håkan Samuelsson.

With electrification reshaping the auto industry and U.S. sales still trending upward, Ridgeville looks poised to become the beating heart of Volvo’s American ambitions.

Source: Volvo