(Photo courtesy of  Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes-Benz Vans is celebrating a global milestone with the production of five million Sprinter vans.

The five-millionth vehicle – an all-electric eSprinter – was assembled at the company's facility in Charleston, South Carolina, and handed over to FedEx, a long-standing Mercedes-Benz Vans customer.

Officials said the occasion not only underscores the enduring success of the Sprinter but also highlights Charleston's crucial role in Mercedes-Benz's global manufacturing network.

For nearly 20 years, the Charleston plant has played a vital role for our Sprinter in North America.

The landmark vehicle joins FedEx's growing global fleet of electric and combustion Mercedes-Benz vans.

"The global production of five million Sprinter vans and the celebration of the model's 30th anniversary is a testament to its enduring success,” said Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Klein added, “This milestone reflects the dedication of our teams, the trust of our customers, and the continuous evolution of a vehicle that has defined the large van segment for three decades. We are proud of this legacy and excited for the future as we continue to drive progress in the van industry."

Established in 2006, Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV Charleston) is the company's only vans plant in North America.

In 2018, the facility underwent a significant expansion to accommodate the third generation of the Sprinter enabling the site to perform part-by-part assembly for the North American market.

The upgrade included the addition of a new body shop, a paint shop, and an extension to the existing assembly area, allowing the plant to meet rising demand.

Today, officials said MBV Charleston stands as a beacon of sustainability and modern assembly, featuring advanced systems such as driverless transport and digital training tools for its workforce of over 1,600 employees.

Furthermore, a $50 million investment in 2024 supported the launch of the new eSprinter in the plant, marking another key milestone in its ongoing innovation and growth.

Replacing the Mercedes TN (T1) series, the Sprinter debuted in 1995 and quickly set new standards in the light commercial vehicle segment.

The Sprinter introduced many advanced safety features for its class – like ABS brakes and later ESP (Electronic Stability Program) – and offered a more aerodynamic design, better fuel efficiency, and a range of powerful yet economical gasoline and diesel engines.

By the launch of its second generation in 2006, the Sprinter had become popular across industries, from delivery services to tradespeople to camper-van conversions.

The new model offered even more improvements: increased cargo capacity, a more spacious cabin, and a broader range of body styles – including chassis cabs and minibuses.

Mercedes-Benz expanded its target market, marketing the Sprinter under different badges like Dodge and Freightliner in North America, making it a versatile option on both sides of the Atlantic.

The third generation, introduced in 2018, incorporated state-of-the-art tech features such as connectivity and digital services.

The Sprinter transformed to more than just a van – it became a mobile office with an MBUX multimedia system, advanced telematics, and driving-assistance features.

The Sprinter has a broad range of variants – more than 1,000 different versions can be configured from the different bodies, chassis, drive concepts, tonnages and equipment details alone.

The current generation offers an even larger selection of drivetrains, including front wheel drive and two transmission types, one of which is a nine-speed automatic with torque converter.

Officials said with the introduction of the all-electric variant, the eSprinter, the future of light commercial transport is underway.

In addition to the assembly in Charleston, the Sprinter and eSprinter are produced in Düsseldorf (Germany) and Ludwigsfelde (Germany).

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. 

The Huntington National Bank on May 2, 2025, celebrated the expansion of its consumer bank into the Carolinas region with the opening of its first branch at 172 E. Main St. in Spartanburg.

Officials said the full-service branch will begin serving customers with tellers, personal and private bankers, and ATMs.

"We are energized by the enthusiastic response from our customers and the community," said Brant Standridge, president of Consumer and Regional Banking at Huntington. "This new branch builds on our already established presence in the Carolinas, our successful commercial expansion in the region and accelerates Huntington's growth.”

Standridge added, “We look forward to delivering our expertise and full suite of products and capabilities across personal, wealth, business, and commercial banking to customers throughout North and South Carolina."

Officials said the opening of the Spartanburg branch launches Huntington's broader expansion strategy across the Carolinas.

Over the next three years, the bank plans to add approximately 55 branches and hire more than 350 colleagues across North and South Carolina.

Huntington plans to open its next South Carolina branch in Charleston in the fourth quarter.

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $210 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Greenville, South Carolina-based Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict (MetroConnects) announced the start of infrastructure improvements within the historic Union Bleachery community, as part of its Clean Water Forward initiative. 

The critical infrastructure project is supported by a $4 million State and Tribal Assistance Grant approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2023.

“The Union Bleachery area is an important part of our Greenville community,” said Michael Stansell, senior project manager at MetroConnects. “We’re excited to get to work rehabilitating and replacing these sewer lines to ensure the area’s wastewater infrastructure continues to serve them for years to come.”

One of the most critical aspects of Greenville’s aging infrastructure is buried underground. In pockets of Greenville County, pipes that were installed a century ago are still in use.

During the first phase of the project, MetroConnects teams will be replacing and relocating approximately 4,953 linear feet of gravity sewer lines and installing 27 new manholes in the area to correct the existing structural defects of the more than 100-year-old system.

The utility will abandon 8,615 linear feet of VCP or clay pipes and 120 manholes that have been in the ground since approximately 1906 when the first homes were constructed in the mill village.

The project will also rehabilitate 224 linear feet of a 15-inch sewer main with Cured-In-Place (CIPP) lining to prevent open cut construction across a waterway.

The Clean Water Forward initiative addresses aging wastewater infrastructure and sewer capacity issues in Greenville County along the mill crescent and aims to create a sustainable, well-maintained and reliable wastewater system.

Wastewater collection systems are already being replaced in Dunean Mill Village and Mills Mill Village. Judson Mill Village is scheduled to begin later this year.

Officials said replacement of these wastewater collection systems will support a healthy and safe community by eliminating health threats and environmental hazards from wastewater leaks and manhole overflows.

In addition, it will aid in removing excess rainwater from the wastewater system, keeping rates affordable and providing sustainable infrastructure for Greenville County’s future, the officials said.

Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict, dba as MetroConnects, is a special purpose district established in 1969 by the S.C. State Legislature that provides wastewater collection services in Greenville County and transports approximately 20 million gallons of wastewater per day to Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) for treatment and disposal.

MetroConnects serves more than 104,000 customers in the unincorporated areas of Greenville County in addition to the city of Travelers Rest and operates and maintains more than 1,500 miles of wastewater collection lines.

Molly Silliman and Virginia Ellison, archivists with the South Carolina Historical Society, will outline how to get started with preserving historic family and organizational archives, with tips on supplies and storage needs, as well as information on how church archives can be organized and made accessible.

Silliman and Ellison will also share information about collections available at the SCHS Archives and how researchers can access materials there.

Join one of the upcoming "Records Ready" programs:

Thursday, May 8 at 6:00pm at the McCormick County Library (201 Railroad Avenue, McCormick, SC 29835)

Sunday, June 1 at 3:00pm at the Orangeburg Historical Society (1421 Middleton St., Orangeburg, 29115)

Thursday, June 5 at 6:00pm at the Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center (313 Butler Street, St. Matthews, SC 29135)

Tuesday, June 10 at 11:00am at Allendale County Library (297 Main Street N, Allendale, SC 29810)

Tuesday, June 10 at 3:00pm at Pratt Memorial Library, Temporary Location (112 Weathersby St., Ridgeland, SC 29986).

The events are free and open to the public.