Rolls-Royce invests $75M in U.S. manufacturing
British aerospace and defense giant Rolls-Royce has announced a $75 million investment to expand its engine manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina — a strategic move that signals the company’s deeper push into energy and power systems alongside its aerospace roots.
The investment is aimed at boosting production of the mtu Series 4000 diesel engines, a critical component in backup power systems used by data centers and other essential infrastructure. The facility expansion is expected to create 60 new jobs and enhance local manufacturing capabilities, with operations set to begin in July 2027 following a first-phase launch in early 2026.
“The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers — especially in the fast-growing American data center industry,” said Adam Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce’s power systems division in America.
Currently, many mtu engine components are manufactured in Germany and shipped to the U.S. as finished products. The new investment will allow more of this machining work to be completed domestically, reflecting a broader effort by Rolls-Royce to localize production and support U.S. energy infrastructure.
Adam Riddle, CEO for Rolls-Royce North America, emphasized the strategic importance of the move, stating, “We are proud to support America’s growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation’s energy independence and security.”
The Aiken facility is now set to become a central hub in the company’s North American power systems strategy, aligning with broader trends in the U.S. economy — particularly the rapid growth of data centers and the need for robust, resilient backup power.
This marks the second significant development for Rolls-Royce in just two days. On Monday, the company also made headlines with an international agreement: the U.K. and Czech Republic announced a collaboration involving the export of up to six small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) developed by Rolls-Royce, as part of a growing effort to diversify global energy sources.
Together, the announcements underscore a key transformation underway at Rolls-Royce — from a legacy aerospace leader to a broader energy and technology powerhouse, with an increasingly significant footprint in North America.
