Mercedes-Benz Vans, a division of Daimler, is investing $500 million to establish a new, full van manufacturing plant in North Charleston. The investment is expected to create about 1,300 new jobs over several years.

The plant will produce the Sprinter, one of the world’s leading large vans, according to a release. More than 2.8 million Sprinters have been delivered to customers in around 130 countries worldwide, the release said.

The United States is the company’s second largest sales market behind Germany. In 2014, the company delivered approximately 26,000 Sprinters to U.S. customers, the release said.

“We are investing around half a billion dollars to create a top-notch Mercedes-Benz van plant here in South Carolina. This plant is key to our future growth in the very dynamic North American van market,” Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said in the release.

The company will create a body shop, paint shop and assembly line. Construction of the new factory is scheduled to begin in 2016. Mercedes-Benz has operated its current van assembly operation in Charleston County since 2006.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits and a $14 million Closing Fund grant to assist with the cost of real property improvements related to the project.

[Photo provided by Daimler]