Alabama’s auto industry continues to thrive, racking up new jobs and investments in communities across the state.

Last year, there were at least 68 auto projects, for an estimated total of 3,848 jobs and $907.1 million in new capital investment, according to an analysis of the 2016个新 & Expanding Industry Report. New projects announced this year push that total past $1 billion and add hundreds of more jobs.

The projects included new companies and expanding operations, which manufacture everything from intricate vehicle parts and major component systems to entire automobiles.

“Our deep roots in the auto industry keep growing deeper,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “仅去年一年, there were new or expanding auto companies in 26 Alabama counties, showing the vast reach of auto production in Alabama.”

“Our suppliers have found – just as we have – that Alabama is a great place to do business.” 

The 2016 projects included Hyundai’s $52 million investment in upgrades to its Montgomery plant to bring the Santa Fe SUV back to its assembly lines. 另一个是 the 535-job expansion of Tuscaloosa County’s Lear Operation Corp., which supplies seating systems to the 梅塞德斯 factory in Vance.

Among the other highlights were MöllerTech’s new $46.3 million, 222-job facility in Bibb County and a $14.5 million, 200-job expansion for Eissmann 汽车 North America Inc. 在圣. 克莱尔县. Both manufacture parts for car interiors.

在其他地方,西班牙的 卡车 & 车轮组 is building its first U.S. parts plant in Tuscaloosa County, where it’s investing $30 million in an operation that will employ 70 people. 在李县， The Berghoff Group announced a $30 million, 100-job precision machining facility.

有希望的前景

As Alabama’s auto industry marks a 关键里程碑 – two decades of vehicle production – the sector’s growth prospects continue to look strong in 2017.

梅塞德斯, 例如, recently held a supplier forum at its plant to discuss its next-generation SUVs. Officials for the automaker underlined the current and future importance of SUV production in Alabama during personal discussions with partners, 包括李尔王, SMP和Kamtek.

They also emphasized the successful partnership that has grown over the years since the first 梅塞德斯 M-Class rolled down the automaker’s Alabama assembly line on Feb. 14, 1997.

“The increasing requirements due to a continual rise in production numbers for the SUV segment was a massive challenge for all suppliers, which was mastered very well,”医生说。. 克劳斯Zehender, member of the divisional board of 梅塞德斯-Benz Cars, Procurement and Supplier Quality.

杰森·霍夫, president and CEO of the Alabama operations, 梅塞德斯-Benz US International Inc., echoed those comments.

“These are exciting times for our Alabama facility as we prepare to take on this new challenge to build the next generation of SUVs,他说. “梅塞德斯-Benz became the first auto manufacturing plant to build vehicles in Alabama more than 20 years ago and, 从那时起, other automakers and suppliers have joined us.

“Our suppliers have found – just as we have – that Alabama is a great place to do business,霍夫补充道.

2017年的势头

与此同时, 2017 has brought new auto sector projects to Alabama, setting the stage for more growth across the state. 其中包括:

• 汽车供应商 Hanwha Advanced Materials America LLC plans to invest $20 million to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Opelika, adding 100 new jobs over the next three years.
• 本田 announced plans to invest $85 million at its Lincoln plant in the first phase of a multi-faceted project to improve manufacturing flexibility, strengthen logistics efficiency for future models and prepare for future technologies.
• Spain-based auto supplier Grupo Antolin announced plans to invest nearly $10.4 million to establish a manufacturing facility in Jefferson County that will employ 150 people by 2020.