JTEKT Automotive Tennessee investing $218.5 million in expansion

JTEKT Automotive Tennessee

An aerial view shows the JTEKT Automotive Tennessee facility in Vonore. The company will invest $218.5 million to expand the Monroe County facility, creating 50 new jobs.

JTEKT Automotive Tennessee announced Monday that it will invest $218.5 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Monroe County and create 50 new jobs in Vonore.

JTEKT Automotive Tennessee is a subsidiary of Japan-based JTEKT Corp. and manufactures hydraulic, manual and electric steering parts for both foreign and domestic automakers.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd said in a statement Tuesday that he wanted to thank JTEKT for choosing to expand in Monroe County.

“JTEKT is one of over 900 automotive suppliers located throughout the state, and it is exciting to have this great company strengthening Team Tennessee. I look forward to their future success and growth in our state,” Boyd said.

Growing market

In announcing the expansion, JTEKT said the investment was to accommodate its growing market and meeting future and current needs.

Located in the Tellico West Industrial Park, the Vonore facility currently has about 1,000 employees, according to Human Resource Manager Terry Knight. JTEKT Automotive Tennessee opened in 1988.
“JTEKT is trying to get on the cutting edge of rack parallel and dual pinion steering technology,” Knight told The Daily Times.
Workforce praised

“We have just a wonderful, wonderful workforce,” he said. “JTEKT is thankful for our dedicated employees through the years and look forward to a long and prosperous future in Vonore.”

The company’s largest customer is Toyota. Other customers include Honda and BMW, Knight said.

He said the expansion will be in the former MARCA/Cobalt building located across the street from JTEKT’s current facility. JTEKT purchased the building in December 2012 Since then, the company has been doing some infrastructure changes and setting the facility up, Knight said.

work on facility to start in September

JTEKT plans to start production in the new facility in September 2016.

Bryan Hall, director of Monroe County Economic Development, said the county is “very excited” about the expansion of Monroe County’s largest employer.

“JTEKT has been a great asset to the community for many years and has provided a better quality of life for the citizens of Monroe County,” Hall said in a statement. “This expansion shows our level of commitment to our existing industries and economic development.”

“We are proud to be a part of JTEKT’s announcement today and welcome the new jobs and capital investment for our citizens of Monroe County,” Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates said of the expansion.

JTEKT Automotive Tennessee also has a manufacturing facility in Morristown. Koyo Bearings, another JTEKT Corp. subsidiary, has a manufacturing facility in Washington County.