Latest news with #LarryGrooms
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCDOT plans to release Momentum 2050 Plan to outline improvements on Thursday
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The General Assembly tasked the South Carolina Department of Transportation with making their Momentum 2050 Plan. The plan outlines goals and future improvements the South Carolina Department of Transportation wants to make. 'Yeah, it is a good way off 2050. But if we don't start funding and preparing and permitting now, we're never going to get there, ' said Sen. Larry Grooms, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee (R – Berkeley). SC death row inmate granted stay of execution The S.C. Department of Transportation said the state has changed drastically since the last plan was made. Secretary at SCDOT, Justin Powell said after the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been 360,000 new residents who have come to the Palmetto State. They are expecting a million more new residents within the next 20 years. 'The questions are not about the pothole anymore. It's the 'I can't get across town like I used to,' it's those questions,' Powell said. Grooms said they are committed to working with SCDOT on funding. 'We underfunded our roads for about 25 years. So, for 25 years in a row, our roads got worse, and now that we're getting too good, getting our handle, getting a handle on that, now we need to understand we have to do more to be able to expand the network,' said Grooms. 'Our roads have to be safe, and any unsafe bridges have to be repaired,' Grooms added. 'Now, we know others are aging out, so coming up with a schedule of which bridges get replaced and that's essential in having the revenue to do it.' Another key issue addressed was railroad repairs and crossings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCDOT Momentum 2050 Plan
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The General Assembly tasked the South Carolina Department of Transportation with making their Momentum 2050 Plan. The plan outlines goals and future improvements the South Carolina Department of Transportation wants to make. 'Yeah, it is a good way off 2050. But if we don't start funding and preparing and permitting now, we're never going to get there, ' said Senator Larry Grooms, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee (R – Berkely). The South Carolina Department of Transportation said the state has changed drastically since the last plan was made. Secretary at SCDOT, Justin Powell said after the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been 360,000 new residents who have come to the Palmetto State. They are expecting a million more new residents within the next 20 years. 'The questions are not about the pothole anymore. It's the 'I can't get across town like I used to,' it's those questions,' Powell said. Grooms said they are committed to working with SCDOT on funding. 'We underfunded our roads for about 25 years. So, for 25 years in a row, our roads got worse, and now that we're getting too good, getting our handle, getting a handle on that, now we need to understand we have to do more to be able to expand the network,' said Grooms. 'Our roads have to be safe, and any unsafe bridges have to be repaired,' Grooms added. 'Now, we know others are aging out, so coming up with a schedule of which bridges get replaced and that's essential in having the revenue to do it.' Another key issue addressed was railroad repairs and crossings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state
Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors is making a massive bet in the electric SUV market with a carefully cultivated experience that will allow some customers to buy the company's vehicle in minutes on an app and then use it to handle everything after from repairs to updates and upgrades. But without some help from lawmakers, that will be impossible in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into its new auto plant and a Scout Motors experience like BMW's test track in Greer. In a world where almost everything can be bought online, automobiles remain an exception. Supporters of the dealership model say the experience allows buyers to compare prices across several businesses. Unlike a pair of pants, where color, style and size are about the only concerns, buying a car involves financing, state registration, taxes, regulations — and often a test drive. CHECK IT OUT: Map of proposed EV charging stations released South Carolina is one of about two dozen states that ban manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to consumers and instead require all new autos be purchased through a dealer. Scout would like to see that practice changed nationwide for all EV makers and figured it could start in its new backyard. South Carolina also bans manufacturers from owning their own service centers, which means anyone who wants to own a Scout SUV must travel to another state to have it repaired or serviced. People who back the dealership structure said online sales could lead to carmakers raising their own prices with less competition. The dealership structure requires local business owners to back what they sell and assure buyers get quality service on their vehicles. Auto dealers often have close ties to their communities and cities could lose one of their biggest businesses and heftiest taxpayers. 'If for some reason the car is a lemon or the job isn't getting done, they are the folks who live there, who pay their taxes and send their kids to school,' said Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who runs the Senate Transportation Committee where any bill changing the rules would likely end up. Scout is determined to get the law changed to help them as well as other EV makers like Tesla and Rivian. They have gone on a media blitz that includes stories in local outlets. They are also trying to secure support in a Republican-dominated state with an argument that consumers should be free to buy whatever they wish directly, without a middleman. Scout also is armed with a 2000 Attorney General's Office opinion on the bill which would weeks later would become law and serve as the most recent major overhaul to South Carolina's laws on new car buying. 'If a manufacturer cannot sell his own product, but must constitutionally pass that product through a 'middle man,' then our understanding of the free market system is way off base. The Internet is a worldwide web for trade, not a local instrument for protectionism,' wrote then-Republican state Attorney General Charlie Condon in the opinion, which is not binding and an educated guess on what a judge might do if someone sued over the law. Scout officials say using a dealership-only business model would make the vehicles aimed at the under-$60,000 market too expensive and complicate what the company wants to be a seamless experience, from start to finish. ALSO READ: EV charging company launches HQ in Charlotte for local talent pool Gov. Henry McMaster touts the Scout plant in Blythewood as one of his biggest economic development scores The Republican has been to both the February 2024 groundbreaking of the massive facility and this month's ceremony to mark work starting on a new $150 million interstate interchange the state is paying for to help get workers, parts and new SUVs in and out. McMaster recently said he wants to protect dealers, but wants to let Scout sell directly, too. 'Over the last few years with the Internet and Amazon and all the others customers are looking for their freedom and that ability to order things direct without a middleman,' McMaster said. Scout is trying to find a niche in a growing but uncertain U.S. electric vehicle market. President Donald Trump's election could threaten the industry, both through ending tax credits and tariffs that could raise prices. The original Scout Motors made gasoline-powered vehicles for about 20 years when it was owned by International Harvester. Production ended in 1980, but their shape and features continue to influence modern SUVs. Scouts have had a niche fanbase of collectors ever since. The new Scout Motors is trying to tap into a mix of nostalgia and technology. Key to Scout's success will be its app, Scout Vice President of Growth Cody Thacker said. He envisions a Scout buyer scrolling through types and colors, performance and comfort options and hundreds of other choices. Financing, titling and paperwork would all be handled in minutes instead of the hours it takes at dealerships. That custom SUV could then be delivered to the buyer's door. 'You see the point of contention and the huge opportunity,' Thacker said. Scout's plant in Blythewood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Columbia, is expected to open in 2027 and employ up to 4,000 people if the company can hit its goal of making and selling 200,000 vehicles per year. Scout also wants to build by its plant a center where people could test drive vehicles on a company-owned track and take tours. For it to work, the company wants to be able to sell someone a vehicle after they zoom around the site, Thacker said. South Carolina agreed in 2023 to give Scout more than $1 billion in incentives to land the plant. At the time, the dealership law wasn't on their radar. It came up as executives started looking at their business model, Thacker said. The company doesn't regret choosing South Carolina and still believes it gave them the best workforce, economic climate and infrastructure. And it will move forward if the law isn't changed selling its vehicles through other states where it can get national licenses sending the money and tax benefits out of the state, Thacker said. (VIDEO: More businesses are using electric vehicles)
The Independent
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state
Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors is making a massive bet in the electric SUV market with a carefully cultivated experience that will allow some customers to buy the company's vehicle in minutes on an app and then use it to handle everything after from repairs to updates and upgrades. But without some help from lawmakers, that will be impossible in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into its new auto plant and a Scout Motors experience like BMW's test track in Greer. In a world where almost everything can be bought online, automobiles remain an exception. Supporters of the dealership model say the experience allows buyers to compare prices across several businesses. Unlike a pair of pants, where color, style and size are about the only concerns, buying a car involves financing, state registration, taxes, regulations — and often a test drive. South Carolina is one of about two dozen states that ban manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to consumers and instead require all new autos be purchased through a dealer. Scout would like to see that practice changed nationwide for all EV makers and figured it could start in its new backyard. South Carolina also bans manufacturers from owning their own service centers, which means anyone who wants to own a Scout SUV must travel to another state to have it repaired or serviced. People who back the dealership structure said online sales could lead to carmakers raising their own prices with less competition. The dealership structure requires local business owners to back what they sell and assure buyers get quality service on their vehicles. Auto dealers often have close ties to their communities and cities could lose one of their biggest businesses and heftiest taxpayers. 'If for some reason the car is a lemon or the job isn't getting done, they are the folks who live there, who pay their taxes and send their kids to school,' said Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who runs the Senate Transportation Committee where any bill changing the rules would likely end up. Scout is determined to get the law changed to help them as well as other EV makers like Tesla and Rivian. They have gone on a media blitz that includes stories in local outlets. They are also trying to secure support in a Republican-dominated state with an argument that consumers should be free to buy whatever they wish directly, without a middleman. Scout also is armed with a 2000 Attorney General 's Office opinion on the bill which would weeks later would become law and serve as the most recent major overhaul to South Carolina's laws on new car buying. 'If a manufacturer cannot sell his own product, but must constitutionally pass that product through a 'middle man,' then our understanding of the free market system is way off base. The Internet is a worldwide web for trade, not a local instrument for protectionism,' wrote then-Republican state Attorney General Charlie Condon in the opinion, which is not binding and an educated guess on what a judge might do if someone sued over the law. Scout officials say using a dealership-only business model would make the vehicles aimed at the under-$60,000 market too expensive and complicate what the company wants to be a seamless experience, from start to finish. Gov. Henry McMaster touts the Scout plant in Blythewood as one of his biggest economic development scores The Republican has been to both the February 2024 groundbreaking of the massive facility and this month's ceremony to mark work starting on a new $150 million interstate interchange the state is paying for to help get workers, parts and new SUVs in and out. McMaster recently said he wants to protect dealers, but wants to let Scout sell directly, too. 'Over the last few years with the Internet and Amazon and all the others customers are looking for their freedom and that ability to order things direct without a middleman,' McMaster said. Scout is trying to find a niche in a growing but uncertain U.S. electric vehicle market. President Donald Trump's election could threaten the industry, both through ending tax credits and tariffs that could raise prices. The original Scout Motors made gasoline-powered vehicles for about 20 years when it was owned by International Harvester. Production ended in 1980, but their shape and features continue to influence modern SUVs. Scouts have had a niche fanbase of collectors ever since. The new Scout Motors is trying to tap into a mix of nostalgia and technology. Key to Scout's success will be its app, Scout Vice President of Growth Cody Thacker said. He envisions a Scout buyer scrolling through types and colors, performance and comfort options and hundreds of other choices. Financing, titling and paperwork would all be handled in minutes instead of the hours it takes at dealerships. That custom SUV could then be delivered to the buyer's door. 'You see the point of contention and the huge opportunity,' Thacker said. Scout's plant in Blythewood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Columbia, is expected to open in 2027 and employ up to 4,000 people if the company can hit its goal of making and selling 200,000 vehicles per year. Scout also wants to build by its plant a center where people could test drive vehicles on a company-owned track and take tours. For it to work, the company wants to be able to sell someone a vehicle after they zoom around the site, Thacker said. South Carolina agreed in 2023 to give Scout more than $1 billion in incentives to land the plant. At the time, the dealership law wasn't on their radar. It came up as executives started looking at their business model, Thacker said. The company doesn't regret choosing South Carolina and still believes it gave them the best workforce, economic climate and infrastructure. And it will move forward if the law isn't changed selling its vehicles through other states where it can get national licenses sending the money and tax benefits out of the state, Thacker said.
Associated Press
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. (AP) — Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors is making a massive bet in the electric SUV market with a carefully cultivated experience that will allow some customers to buy the company's vehicle in minutes on an app and then use it to handle everything after from repairs to updates and upgrades. But without some help from lawmakers, that will be impossible in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into its new auto plant and a Scout Motors experience like BMW's test track in Greer. In a world where almost everything can be bought online, automobiles remain an exception. Supporters of the dealership model say the experience allows buyers to compare prices across several businesses. Unlike a pair of pants, where color, style and size are about the only concerns, buying a car involves financing, state registration, taxes, regulations — and often a test drive. South Carolina is one of about two dozen states that ban manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to consumers and instead require all new autos be purchased through a dealer. Scout would like to see that practice changed nationwide for all EV makers and figured it could start in its new backyard. South Carolina also bans manufacturers from owning their own service centers, which means anyone who wants to own a Scout SUV must travel to another state to have it repaired or serviced. People who back the dealership structure said online sales could lead to carmakers raising their own prices with less competition. The dealership structure requires local business owners to back what they sell and assure buyers get quality service on their vehicles. Auto dealers often have close ties to their communities and cities could lose one of their biggest businesses and heftiest taxpayers. 'If for some reason the car is a lemon or the job isn't getting done, they are the folks who live there, who pay their taxes and send their kids to school,' said Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who runs the Senate Transportation Committee where any bill changing the rules would likely end up. Scout is determined to get the law changed to help them as well as other EV makers like Tesla and Rivian. They have gone on a media blitz that includes stories in local outlets. They are also trying to secure support in a Republican-dominated state with an argument that consumers should be free to buy whatever they wish directly, without a middleman. Scout also is armed with a 2000 Attorney General's Office opinion on the bill which would weeks later would become law and serve as the most recent major overhaul to South Carolina's laws on new car buying. 'If a manufacturer cannot sell his own product, but must constitutionally pass that product through a 'middle man,' then our understanding of the free market system is way off base. The Internet is a worldwide web for trade, not a local instrument for protectionism,' wrote then-Republican state Attorney General Charlie Condon in the opinion, which is not binding and an educated guess on what a judge might do if someone sued over the law. Scout officials say using a dealership-only business model would make the vehicles aimed at the under-$60,000 market too expensive and complicate what the company wants to be a seamless experience, from start to finish. Gov. Henry McMaster touts the Scout plant in Blythewood as one of his biggest economic development scores The Republican has been to both the February 2024 groundbreaking of the massive facility and this month's ceremony to mark work starting on a new $150 million interstate interchange the state is paying for to help get workers, parts and new SUVs in and out. McMaster recently said he wants to protect dealers, but wants to let Scout sell directly, too. 'Over the last few years with the Internet and Amazon and all the others customers are looking for their freedom and that ability to order things direct without a middleman,' McMaster said. Scout is trying to find a niche in a growing but uncertain U.S. electric vehicle market. President Donald Trump's election could threaten the industry, both through ending tax credits and tariffs that could raise prices. The original Scout Motors made gasoline-powered vehicles for about 20 years when it was owned by International Harvester. Production ended in 1980, but their shape and features continue to influence modern SUVs. Scouts have had a niche fanbase of collectors ever since. The new Scout Motors is trying to tap into a mix of nostalgia and technology. Key to Scout's success will be its app, Scout Vice President of Growth Cody Thacker said. He envisions a Scout buyer scrolling through types and colors, performance and comfort options and hundreds of other choices. Financing, titling and paperwork would all be handled in minutes instead of the hours it takes at dealerships. That custom SUV could then be delivered to the buyer's door. 'You see the point of contention and the huge opportunity,' Thacker said. Scout's plant in Blythewood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Columbia, is expected to open in 2027 and employ up to 4,000 people if the company can hit its goal of making and selling 200,000 vehicles per year. Scout also wants to build by its plant a center where people could test drive vehicles on a company-owned track and take tours. For it to work, the company wants to be able to sell someone a vehicle after they zoom around the site, Thacker said. South Carolina agreed in 2023 to give Scout more than $1 billion in incentives to land the plant. At the time, the dealership law wasn't on their radar. It came up as executives started looking at their business model, Thacker said. The company doesn't regret choosing South Carolina and still believes it gave them the best workforce, economic climate and infrastructure. And it will move forward if the law isn't changed selling its vehicles through other states where it can get national licenses sending the money and tax benefits out of the state, Thacker said.
