Gray Celebrates Groundbreaking for Global Leader Isuzu in South Carolina

(Isuzu vehicle on display at Piedmont ground eaking. Photo by David Dykes)

Gray, a fully integrated design-builder, celebrated the ground eaking Oct. 1, 2025, of the new state-of-the-art motor vehicle production plant in Piedmont, South Carolina, for Isuzu North America Corporation, a global leader in commercial vehicles.

When Isuzu decided to expand its production footprint in the U.S., it selected Gray to design and build its newest facility.

This project includes the build-out and expansion of an existing 1,000,000-square-foot facility in Piedmont and is one of nearly 70 active projects where Gray is advancing the industrial footprint across the U.S. and reaffirming its commitment to design-build.

Isuzu’s facility, situated on 200 acres in Greenville County, represents a $280 million investment and will serve as a cutting-edge production hub for Isuzu’s medium-duty truck lineup, including the N-Series Gas, N-Series Electric, and F-Series trucks.

The plant will have a production capacity of 50,000 units by 2030 and is expected to employ over 700 South Carolinians by 2028.

Upon completion of the plant, Isuzu will produce gas, diesel, and electric-powered vehicles, partly in anticipation of the increased electrification of vehicles across the U.S.

"Working with Isuzu on this landmark facility is an incredible opportunity. As a global leader in the truck manufacturing industry, Isuzu sets the standard for quality and innovation," said Drew Romans, vice president of Manufacturing at Gray. "At Gray, we're proud to bring decades of design-build and Japanese customer expertise to support their growth in the U.S."

The facility will be the first Isuzu plant featuring a variable-model, variable-volume production system for gas and diesel engines as well as electric vehicles.

Additionally. this will be the first Isuzu facility to utilize a production line without conveyors or pits but instead feature a highly advanced line that promotes flexibility and scalability.

The facility also will feature a number of automation systems.

For more than 40 years, Isuzu trucks have been serving the U.S. dating back to the first truck that arrived in 1984.

Today, Isuzu has more than 300 dealers in North America.

Gray is currently ranked the No. 3 Top Contractor for Auto Plants by Engineering News-Record.

White Lodging Awarded Management of The Shepherd Hotel at Clemson University

White Lodging, a hotel development, ownership, and management company, begins managing The Shepherd Hotel in Clemson, a major employer of ClemsonLIFE students and graduates. Read More »