Hitachi Automotive Systems America, a major supplier of powertrain and steering components for global automakers, plans a $100 million expansion of its factory in Walton County.
The Friday announcement from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office said the project could eventually grow to $330 million in total investment. The number of jobs added will be a relatively modest 100.
The factory in Monroe, 50 miles east of downtown Atlanta, now employs about 900. The complex opened in the 1990s as an Unisia parts facility, and Hitachi acquired the company several years ago.
The Monroe plant makes valve timing controls, propeller shafts, hydraulic and electric power steering systems and variable displacement pumps. Monroe Mayor John Howard hailed the expansion.
“Hitachi is one of Monroe’s finest corporations who continues to invest in high technology and top-quality jobs for our community,” he said in the news release. “Their community support and involvement is second to none, and we couldn’t be more proud to have them in the city of Monroe.”
Hitachi Automotive is a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Hitachi Group conglomerate. Hitachi spokesman Craig Fisher said the expansion will roll out over about five years and involve chassis and powertrain-related products. The new jobs will largely consist of production roles.
Hitachi’s customers include Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Subaru.
Georgia counts Kia as its sole automotive manufacturing plant, but state recruiters have courted numerous automotive suppliers, touting Georgia's proximity to auto factories throughout the Southeast. Georgia also is home to North American headquarters for Germany luxury automakers Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.
In March, South Korean battery manufacturer SK Innovation broke ground on a $1.7 billion factory in Jackson County where it will make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. That factory is expected to employ 2,000. The state and Jackson County combined offered SK Innovation about $300 million in grants, tax breaks and free property to land the project.
Information about incentives offered Hitachi also was not immediately available.
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