New report shows the Southeast has a large share of electric vehicle market

A new report by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and Atlas Public Policy shows that the Southeast is a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing and research and development. The report, “Transportation Electrification in the Southeast,” claimed that 28 percent of the nationwide manufacturing investment has occurred in the Southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nearly $7 billion in current automakers and battery manufacturer’s investments are in the Southeast.

 

ALABAMA

Mazda Toyota hiring again at new plant in Huntsville
Mazda Toyota is still finishing its plant in Huntsville, and in December, it hired hundreds more workers for the facility. The hiring, according to the company, will continue through 2022. The plant is expected to be operational in mid-2021.

Fifty-million-dollar Mercedes-Benz expansion in Alabama to add 373 jobs
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plans to lease a new $53.6 million, 530,000-square-foot parts facility near its plant in Tuscaloosa County. The company is expected to create 373 jobs. Situated on 53 acres, the plant will primarily serve as a storage and sequence facility for parts used in MBUSI’s electric vehicles. The automaker is in the midst of a $1 billion expansion focused on electric vehicle production in Alabama, including a new plant in Bibb County that will make battery packs.

Hyundai adds model to Montgomery assembly plant
Korean automaker Hyundai has added a fifth vehicle to its assembly plant in Montgomery, Ala. The company is adding its Tucson model compact SUV to its Alabama line.

Toyota hiring 150 for Huntsville engine plant
Toyota is looking for people to fill positions as part of an expansion that’s adding two new assembly lines to its Huntsville engine plant. The 150 new hires are part of the company’s $830 million expansion that is increasing engine production.

Auto supplier plans Alabama expansions creating 180 jobs
International Automotive Components Group North America (IAC) plans to invest over $55.9 million in expansion projects that will create 182 jobs at two Alabama facilities. IAC is committing $34.3 million to expand its new facility located in Tuscaloosa County, which will hire 119 to produce door panels and overhead systems. In addition, IAC plans to invest $21.6 million at its manufacturing facility in Anniston, creating 63 jobs. The primary product there is automotive interior components and systems.

Danish company selects Alabama for first U.S. plant
Mountain Top Industries, which specializes in aluminum roll covers for pickup trucks, plans to open a 73,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Montgomery. The Danish company will invest $13.3 million to open the facility, which will support 90 full-time jobs.

 

GEORGIA

Big automotive deal in Georgia
Hyundai Transys, a maker of automotive transmissions, is building a new $240 million plant near Kia’s massive assembly facility in West Point, Ga. The plant will produce eight-speed transmissions. The project calls for 678 jobs.

Toyota expanding plant in Georgia
Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America is investing over $5 million in its plant in Jackson County, Ga. The deal will create 27 jobs.

Porsche expanding North American HQ in Georgia
Porsche Cars North America has announced a new multi-million-dollar investment in its North American headquarters in Georgia. Located at the northeast corner of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the new 33-acre development adds to the company’s existing 27-acre headquarters.

 

KENTUCKY

Boston Consulting Group: Ford’s Kentucky plants contribute billions
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant and its Kentucky Truck Plant contribute billions to Kentucky’s economy. BCG estimates that the two Ford plants contribute $11.8 billion to Kentucky’s Gross Domestic Product. The two plants employ about 13,000, and direct and indirect jobs supported by the plants total 120,000.

Auto supplier expansion completed at Frankfort facility
TOPY America, a steel wheel manufacturer for North American car and light truck markets, has completed a $38 million renovation at its Frankfort operation. The project was originally announced in late 2017.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Britain-based Arrival will build first U.S. factory in Rock Hill
London-based Arrival, an electric vehicle company, plans to establish its first U.S. microfactory in Rock Hill. The $46 million investment in York County is expected to create 240 new jobs. Rather than a traditional automotive production line, the microfactory will allow the production of any vehicle from Arrival’s portfolio.

Continental Tire eyes expansion in Lancaster County
Continental Tire the Americas will invest more than $20 million to expand its complex in Lancaster County. The expansion will include a new 88,000-square-foot building that will be constructed next to the existing headquarters, and the addition of 200 new jobs.

 

TENNESSEE

GM investing $2 billion in Spring Hill plant to build electric vehicles
General Motors plans to spend $2 billion to convert its Spring Hill assembly plant into a third U.S. site to build electric vehicles. The Detroit automaker also says it will spend another $153 million to upgrade five Michigan factories for future vehicles. The company will build the Cadillac Lyriq, a small electric SUV, at the Tennessee factory. Gasoline-powered Cadillac SUVs will continue to be built at the plant. GM is also expected to announce details of an all-electric GMC Hummer pickup truck. These are among 20 electric models the company plans to sell globally by 2023.

Fourteen-millionth vehicle assembled at Tennessee Nissan plant
A red Nissan Rogue rolled off the assembly line at the Japanese automaker’s plant in Smyrna, Tenn., in December. The vehicle was the 14-millionth vehicle made at the facility. The plant, which began assembling vehicles in 1983, houses about 7,000 workers.

Spain-based Gestamp expands in Tennessee
Auto parts supplier Gestamp is investing over $94 million in its facilities in Chattanooga. The expansion is due to new electric vehicle production. The deal will create 260 new jobs.

Genuine Parts to open distribution center in Tennessee
Genuine Parts Company will open a new auto parts distribution center in Lebanon, Tenn. The project will create 250 jobs.

Cleveland, Tenn., lands $114 million auto parts plant
Southeast Tennessee’s growing auto sector has landed a supplier that plans to hire nearly 200 workers and invest $114 million as the first company in Cleveland’s newest industrial park. Cannon Automotive Solutions of Bowling Green, Ky., a maker of metal auto parts, will begin production next year.

 

TEXAS

Tesla’s gigafactory in Austin to create 15,000 new jobs
Tesla is expected to create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs at the factory it is building near the Austin airport. The company will build its Cybertruck at the facility.

Tesla buys more land next to its new assembly plant in Austin
Tesla is buying more land in Austin near the site of the $1.1 billion Gigafactory it’s building near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The 2,000-acre property will be used for the plant’s future expansion or possibly for a battery factory.

 

VIRGINIA

Auto parts manufacturer to expand in Virginia
The IAC Group is expanding its automotive parts facility in Strasburg, Va. The $4.6 million deal will create 47 jobs.