June 18, 2010
Toyota Moving Ahead with Mississippi Plant
In mid-June, officials with Toyota Motor Corp. announced the automaker will finish construction on its assembly plant near Tupelo, Miss. after the facility was mothballed at the height of the recession in December of 2008. The company broke ground on the $1.3 billion, 2 million-square-foot plant in April of 2007. Toyota planned to build Highlander model SUVs at the facility, but soaring gas prices nixed that plan. The company then announced it would build the fuel efficient Prius at the northeast Mississippi facility in the summer of 2008. Less than six months later, one of the worst automotive markets in U.S. history was in full swing and the plant was delayed indefinitely. Toyota plans to build the Corolla model at the Tupelo plant after equipment is installed and improvements to the facility are made. The company closed its California facility it shared with GM earlier this year. That plant produced about 150,000 Corolla models and most of that production was then moved to Japan. Toyota officials plan to tool the Mississippi plant with used equipment and furnishings from other plants in North America, a move that will save the company about $500 million. Production in Mississippi is set to begin in the fall of 2011. All suppliers that announced plants to serve the Toyota facility will re-announce their plans and employment figures as Corolla contracts are finalized. Toyota expects to hire 2,000 workers at the Tupelo auto works.
Magna Announces Big Expansion in North Carolina
Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International announced June 15 that it is adding 327 jobs and investing $10 million at three plants it operates in Lenoir, Salisbury and Newton, N.C. The plants are part of the Magna Composites division, which produces plastic exterior and interior components. Magna currently employs 360 people at the three plants. North Carolina successfully recruited the projects over competition from sites in Mexico, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana.
Auburn, Ala. Recruits VW Supplier, Another Expands
In June, CNJ Tech announced plans to expand its operations in the Auburn (Ala.) Industrial Park. The company, which produces brake discs and knuckles, is investing $5.5 million and adding 25 jobs. The expansion is due to increased business from Kia and Hyundai’s plants in Georgia and Alabama. Auburn also recruited a new Volkswagen supplier in June. Tube Technology Systems AG, a Germany-based supplier, will invest $1.4 million in a facility in Auburn. The company will produce brake tubes for VW.
U.S. Engine Valve Investing $18M in South Carolina
In June, U.S. Engine Valve, a supplier of highly engineered valves that help increase fuel economy, announced it is investing $18 million in its plant in Oconee Co., S.C. The company supplies Honda, Toyota and other automakers. The deal will create 10 new jobs.
Chicago Supplier Adding Jobs in Nashville
Chicago-based LKQ, a supplier of collision repair parts to body shops throughout the U.S., is consolidating its four regional accounting centers into a single location at Nashville's Grassmere Park. The $1.2 million project is expected to create 230 new jobs.
Hyundai's Alabama Production Can't Keep Up with Demand
In May, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama had one of its busiest months since the Korean automaker opened its Montgomery, Ala. plant in 2005. The plant rolled out 28,000 Sonata and Sante Fe models and workers at the plant had to put in lots of overtime to produce that many vehicles. Sales of the two models in the U.S. and Canada totaled 31,439 in May and overall Hyundai sold 49,045 vehicles in the U.S. in May. The company reported that during the first five months of 2010 it sold 204,577 vehicles, the most ever of any five month period in the U.S.
Hahn Automation Expands in Northern Kentucky
Hahn Automation, a supplier of custom automation equipment for the automotive industry and others, is expanding its operation in Boone Co., Ky. The company is adding 25,000 square feet of space.
Saint-Gobain Abrasives Expands in S.C.
Saint-Gobain Abrasives, a manufacturer of super abrasives, industrial diamond and cubic boron nitride products used by the aerospace, automotive and bearing markets, is investing $1.4 million at its facility in Travelers Rest, S.C. The company will be consolidating a North Carolina operation to the Travelers Rest plant, adding both equipment and space.
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June 18, 2010
Toyota Moving Ahead with Mississippi Plant
In mid-June, officials with Toyota Motor Corp. announced the automaker will finish construction on its assembly plant near Tupelo, Miss. after the facility was mothballed at the height of the recession in December of 2008. The company broke ground on the $1.3 billion, 2 million-square-foot plant in April of 2007. Toyota planned to build Highlander model SUVs at the facility, but soaring gas prices nixed that plan. The company then announced it would build the fuel efficient Prius at the northeast Mississippi facility in the summer of 2008. Less than six months later, one of the worst automotive markets in U.S. history was in full swing and the plant was delayed indefinitely. Toyota plans to build the Corolla model at the Tupelo plant after equipment is installed and improvements to the facility are made. The company closed its California facility it shared with GM earlier this year. That plant produced about 150,000 Corolla models and most of that production was then moved to Japan. Toyota officials plan to tool the Mississippi plant with used equipment and furnishings from other plants in North America, a move that will save the company about $500 million. Production in Mississippi is set to begin in the fall of 2011. All suppliers that announced plants to serve the Toyota facility will re-announce their plans and employment figures as Corolla contracts are finalized. Toyota expects to hire 2,000 workers at the Tupelo auto works.
Magna Announces Big Expansion in North Carolina
Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International announced June 15 that it is adding 327 jobs and investing $10 million at three plants it operates in Lenoir, Salisbury and Newton, N.C. The plants are part of the Magna Composites division, which produces plastic exterior and interior components. Magna currently employs 360 people at the three plants. North Carolina successfully recruited the projects over competition from sites in Mexico, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana.
Auburn, Ala. Recruits VW Supplier, Another Expands
In June, CNJ Tech announced plans to expand its operations in the Auburn (Ala.) Industrial Park. The company, which produces brake discs and knuckles, is investing $5.5 million and adding 25 jobs. The expansion is due to increased business from Kia and Hyundai’s plants in Georgia and Alabama. Auburn also recruited a new Volkswagen supplier in June. Tube Technology Systems AG, a Germany-based supplier, will invest $1.4 million in a facility in Auburn. The company will produce brake tubes for VW.
U.S. Engine Valve Investing $18M in South Carolina
In June, U.S. Engine Valve, a supplier of highly engineered valves that help increase fuel economy, announced it is investing $18 million in its plant in Oconee Co., S.C. The company supplies Honda, Toyota and other automakers. The deal will create 10 new jobs.
Chicago Supplier Adding Jobs in Nashville
Chicago-based LKQ, a supplier of collision repair parts to body shops throughout the U.S., is consolidating its four regional accounting centers into a single location at Nashville's Grassmere Park. The $1.2 million project is expected to create 230 new jobs.
Hyundai's Alabama Production Can't Keep Up with Demand
In May, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama had one of its busiest months since the Korean automaker opened its Montgomery, Ala. plant in 2005. The plant rolled out 28,000 Sonata and Sante Fe models and workers at the plant had to put in lots of overtime to produce that many vehicles. Sales of the two models in the U.S. and Canada totaled 31,439 in May and overall Hyundai sold 49,045 vehicles in the U.S. in May. The company reported that during the first five months of 2010 it sold 204,577 vehicles, the most ever of any five month period in the U.S.
Hahn Automation Expands in Northern Kentucky
Hahn Automation, a supplier of custom automation equipment for the automotive industry and others, is expanding its operation in Boone Co., Ky. The company is adding 25,000 square feet of space.
Saint-Gobain Abrasives Expands in S.C.
Saint-Gobain Abrasives, a manufacturer of super abrasives, industrial diamond and cubic boron nitride products used by the aerospace, automotive and bearing markets, is investing $1.4 million at its facility in Travelers Rest, S.C. The company will be consolidating a North Carolina operation to the Travelers Rest plant, adding both equipment and space.
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