Two suppliers of air-condition compressors for the automotive industry are teaming up to expand operations in northeast Georgia, a venture that will create 120 jobs, the companies announced this week.
TD Automotive Compressor Georgia and Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America said $190 million will be invested to increase production in Pendergrass, located in Jackson County. Toyota has stakes in both companies.
It’s the latest announcement of a new plant or plant expansion in a region that continues to benefit from a strengthening U.S. economy, particularly in the housing and automotive industries.
“Toyota’s increasing expansions in Georgia are a prime example of how our state’s business environment helps international companies prosper,” Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said in announcing the increased production Jackson County.
Japanese companies account for a large share of international operations in Georgia, according to the Governor's Office. Georgia opened its first trade office in Tokyo in 1973 and there are about 350 Japanese companies operating in the state today, the office said. Gov. Nathan Deal recently completed an economic development trip to Japan and China.
TD Automotive is a joint venture of Toyota Industries Corp. and Denso Corp., a major provider of auto air-condition compressors. This is TD Automotive’s second expansion in Pendergrass since it began operations in 2004. The plant, which is about an 80-minute drive northeast of Atlanta, currently employs more than 400 workers.
Toyota Industries created Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America in December 2012 and it manufactures the main parts of automotive compressors for TD Automotive and other plants. The Toyota plant was already in the process of hiring more than 300 workers in Pendergrass.
Toyota Industries also supplies compressors to other major automakers, including Chrysler, Ford and GM.
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