Statewide Research Assets include:

Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is a 250-acre research campus partnering the university's research and academic programs with industry partners, including BMW, IBM, Microsoft, Michelin North America and SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). CU-ICAR is located along I-85, approximately 200 miles/322 km from Charleston and halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta, a corridor home to two-thirds of the nation's motorsports racing teams.

Clemson Center for Workforce Development, a partnership with Clemson University and three of the state's technical colleges, provides virtual and distance learning for workers in the automotive and aviation fields. These Advanced Technological Education resource centers will give students who are in manufacturing curricula access to online modules that use virtual reality, simulation and other visual tools.

The South Carolina Automotive Council is the state's leading organization dedicated to advancing South Carolina's automotive manufacturing sector in a global marketplace and serves as a forum for automotive manufacturers to work collectively and proactively to address issues through advocacy, resource development, continuous improvement and the exchange of ideas.

The Automotive Research Alliance brings together seven universities in the Southeast to provide the automotive industry with access to research funding and a vast collection of automotive-focused scientists, engineers, researchers, laboratories and equipment.

ARC Hydrogen approximately 150 miles/241 km from Charleston, is co-located with the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) where scientists conduct hydrogen research in support of national security and energy applications. General Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation have formed collaborative partnerships with SRNL focused on improving hydrogen storage technologies for automotive applications.

South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a non-profit contract R&D organization facilitating cross-industry collaboration via national and international research networks. SCRA has expertise in 30 market and technology segments, including advanced metals, composite materials, alternative energy and supply chain logistics.

Automotive Cluster Firms in the Charleston S.C. MSA

Company	Web Address	Product/Service
OEM / Assembly
American LaFrance	www.americanlafrance.com	Heavy duty work trucks, emergency vehicles and related parts
Daimler Vans Manufacturing, LLC	www.daimler.com	Semi-knocked down (SKD) production of Mercedes Sprinter Vans for the U.S. market
Force Protection, Inc.	www.forceprotection.net	Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles
Streit USA Armoring LLC	www.armored-cars.com	Armored sport utility vehicles for commercial and civilian use
Primary Suppliers
Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc.	www.behramerica.behrgroup.com	Engine cooling systems
MSM Bellwright Industries LLC	http://bellwright.com/index.html	CNC machining and assembly
Caterpillar Remanufacturing Powertrain Services	www.cat.com	Transmission remanufacturing
Cummins Turbo Technologies	www.holset.co.uk	Turbochargers and air compressors
Cummins Technical Center	http://www.cummins.com/cmi/index.jsp	Research & development in support of Cummins' turbochargers & products for high-horsepower engines
Getrag Precision Gear	www.getrag.de	Gears for trucks and automobiles
Hubner Manufacturing Corporation	http://www.hubner-germany.com/USA/Homepage.html	Articulation and passageway systems
IFA Rotorion North America, LLC	www.rotorion.de	Vehicle drive shafts
Leatherwood Manufacturing, Inc. (LMI)	www.leatherwoodmfg.com	Precision metal fabrication, CNC machining and electro-mechanical assembly
Midway Specialty Vehicles LLC - Sprinter Division	www.mymidway.com or www.midwayspecialtyvehicles.com	Custom upfit of sprinter vans
Robert Bosch, LLC	www.bosch.com	Antilock brake systems, fuel injectors, common rail
Wabco Compressor Manufacturing Co.	www.wabco-auto.com	Air compressors for motor vehicle control systems
Weber Automotive Corporation	www.weber-a.com/en/	CNC machining of engine components
W.W. Williams Co.	www.wwwilliams.com	Remanufacture diesel engines, automatic transmissions & automotive parts
Secondary Suppliers
The 2AM Group, LLC	www.2amgroup.com	Engineering, process implementation, technical logistics, quality management
Acutec Precision Machining Inc.	www.acutecprecision.com	Precision machining, precision welding, and EDM
Atlantic Coast Steel & Supply	www.atlanticcoaststeel.com	Rebar fabrication and steel products
DuPont	www.dupont.com	Hytrel® thermoplastic polyester elastomer, Kevlar®
Gedore Tools Inc.	www.gedoretools.com	Distribution of hand tools targeting aviation, automotive, industrial and renewable energy sectors
Laurentec Inc.	www.laurentec.com/index.php	Precision machining, fabrication and coating; contract manufacturing and engineering
Mankiewicz Coatings, LLC	http://www.mankiewicz.com/en/home.html	Specialty coatings
Metalworx, Inc.	http://www.metalworxinc.com/	Industrial machining and metal fabrication
Multiplastics/Curd Enterprises, Inc.	www.multiplastics.com	Plastic thermoformed parts
Pegasus Steel	www.pegasussteel.com	Cutting & forming of carbon steel, stainless & aluminum plates, & sheets; North American headquarters
Simons Balancing & Machine Inc.	www.simonsbalancing.com	Machine shop specializing in automotive, industrial and marine engine balancing, precision cylinder boring, custom fab.
TBC Corporation East Coast Distribution Center	www.tbccorp.com/	Distribution center serving East Coast automotive replacement tire market
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions South	www.tss.trelleborg.com/us	Sealing devices and gaskets
TWL Precision	www.twl-precision.com	Precision engineered metal components
UEC Electronics	www.uec-electronics.com	Electronics and electro-mechanical design, engineering and assembly with applications in defense, medical, automotive, aerospace and other sectors
Williams Machine & Tool Co., Inc.	no website available	Industrial machine shop & fabrication
Zapp Precision Wire Inc./Zapp Tooling Alloys Inc.	www.zappusa.com	Specialty steel wire, flat wire and bar
Zeltwanger LP	http://www.zeltwanger.de/en/home/welcome-to-zeltwanger-lp.html	High precision machine components, prototypes and assemblies
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 11/2011