ColumbiaMagazine.com
Printed from:

Welcome to Columbia Magazine  
 



































 
Berea lands new Hitachi plant

By Crystal Staley/Jack Mazurak

Frankfort, KY - As Kentucky rebuilds its economy and puts new emphasis on attracting well-paying jobs and industries of the future, Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America Inc. is establishing a new, 200-job operation in Berea to manufacture motors for electric vehicles.

Leaders of the newly formed Hitachi subsidiary are renovating part of sister-company Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas' plant at 1150 Mayde Road for the operation. Electric motor production could begin between April 2022 and March 2023, in part based on the pandemic's impact. The operation currently employs about 20 people and is expected to grow to approximately 200 in 2023.



"This new venture, along with the jobs and wages it will create, adds true momentum to our economic recovery and points to a bright future as we build a better Kentucky," Gov. Andy Beshear said. "From an automotive workforce and industry perspective, it's also crucial that Kentucky continues to attract these kinds of forward-looking projects. The auto industry is in a years-long tectonic shift to electric vehicles. Throughout this, we must advance the commonwealth's role and reputation as a major player in this hugely important economic sector."

Established in Kentucky in March 2020, Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America will supply motors on a Tier 1 basis to Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

"We are pleased to establish this new business in Berea, where Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas has forged a robust, ongoing relationship with the local community and state officials over the years," said Shingo Nakamura, president of Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America. "The new venture is a critical piece in strengthening Hitachi's foundation in the fast-growing electric vehicle market and supporting the revitalization of the economy in Kentucky through job creation in response to COVID-19."

In Kentucky, Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas operates four facilities. Those include two manufacturing plants in Berea making brake and suspension components at 1150 Mayde Road and 301 Mayde Road, and manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Harrodsburg, producing electronic control systems, actuators and fuel system components.

The newly formed Hitachi subsidiary joins more than 500 other automotive suppliers and four automotive assembly plants operating in Kentucky. The state's geographic position in the middle of the U.S. automotive corridor provides suppliers quick access to dozens of automotive assembly plants within a day's drive.


This story was posted on 2021-01-14 14:25:59
Printable: this page is now automatically formatted for printing.
Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know.



 

































 
 
Quick Links to Popular Features


Looking for a story or picture?
Try our Photo Archive or our Stories Archive for all the information that's appeared on ColumbiaMagazine.com.

 

Contact us: Columbia Magazine and columbiamagazine.com are published by Linda Waggener and Pen Waggener, PO Box 906, Columbia, KY 42728.
Phone: 270.403.0017


Please use our contact page, or send questions about technical issues with this site to webmaster@columbiamagazine.com. All logos and trademarks used on this site are property of their respective owners. All comments remain the property and responsibility of their posters, all articles and photos remain the property of their creators, and all the rest is copyright 1995-Present by Columbia Magazine. Privacy policy: use of this site requires no sharing of information. Voluntarily shared information may be published and made available to the public on this site and/or stored electronically. Anonymous submissions will be subject to additional verification. Cookies are not required to use our site. However, if you have cookies enabled in your web browser, some of our advertisers may use cookies for interest-based advertising across multiple domains. For more information about third-party advertising, visit the NAI web privacy site.