Johnson Controls to Open Automotive Interior Plant
Plymouth, MI, July 29--Officials at automotive interior supplier Johnson Controls today announced that the company would open a new manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Alabama to build and supply vehicle interior products to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama beginning in early 2005.
Johnson Controls' Montgomery plant is expected to employ approximately 70 people when it reaches full production next year. The company has leased a 120,000-square-foot building at 130 6th Street in Montgomery, and redevelopment and refurbishing work at the site is expected to be completed this fall.
When it launches production in March 2005, Johnson Controls will supply center floor consoles and a variety of interior trim components for next- generation Hyundai Sonata mid-sized sedans.
Hyundai began construction of a new, $1 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Alabama plant in November 2002 to produce cars and trucks for the North American market. The automaker's first U.S. manufacturing plant will begin production in 2005, and is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles annually at maximum capacity in 2007.
The new plant operated by Johnson Controls in Montgomery will represent the company's first interior systems supply relationship with Hyundai in North America. The supplier manufactures seat systems, door panels, headliners and floor carpet for Hyundai vehicles in the Korean market.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries.
