Autocar chooses Alabama for $120 million truck assembly plant
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Hagerstown, Indiana-based Autocar will invest $120 million launch a manufacturing operation plant in Alabama to produce heavy-duty cab-over-engine trucks. The project is expected to create 746 jobs. At a press conference this morning at the Birmingham Business Alliance, Autocar said its manufacturing operation will be located…
World travelers: Alabama-made vehicles crisscross the globe as exports surge
From the deserts of the Middle East to urban centers across Asia and villages dotting the European countryside, vehicles made in Alabama are making a lasting impression. Exports of state-made automobiles continued to grow at an impressive rate in 2016, rising 13 percent to $7.9 billion. So far this year, the numbers are holding steady…
‘Minnie Van’: Redesigned Alabama-built Odyssey makes memorable debut
The latest transformation of the Alabama-made Honda Odyssey is turning heads. The redesigned, 2018 edition of the top-selling minivan hit dealer lots this summer and is already earning high marks from reviewers for its performance, technology and other new and improved features. Adding to the buzz, Honda also teamed up with Disney-ABC to create a…
Secretary Canfield: Alabama in running for projects with 11,000 jobs
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the state is competing for economic development projects with more than 11,000 jobs in key industry sectors such as automotive, aerospace, forest products and technology. This promising pipeline of projects follows what has already been a strong year for economic development, Secretary Canfield told members of…
Business Facilities gives high rankings to Alabama, cities
Business Facilities magazine gives Alabama high rankings for its workforce training programs, auto manufacturing strength and overall manufacturing employment, while touting the economic growth potential of Mobile and Huntsville. In its 13th annual ranking report, the economic development-focused publication singled out Huntsville as the nation’s top metro area in aerospace/defense, citing its large concentration of…
Alabama auto sector primed for growth with $1 billion in new investment
Alabama’s auto industry continues to thrive, racking up new jobs and investments in communities across the state. Last year, there were at least 68 auto projects, for an estimated total of 3,848 jobs and $907.1 million in new capital investment, according to an analysis of the 2016 New & Expanding Industry Report. New projects announced…
Bolta marks opening of $49 million Alabama auto parts plant
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Global auto parts supplier Bolta Group today announced the opening of its new $48.7 million production facility at the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park, which will employ 350 people by the end of 2018. State and local officials joined members of Bolta’s global management team at an on-site ceremony today to celebrate…
Tuscaloosa County auto supplier on track to open high-tech facility
VANCE, Alabama — A Spanish auto supplier is moving forward with a $30 million wheel assembly factory in Tuscaloosa County, a project that will create more than 70 jobs. Truck & Wheel Group plans a 127,000-square-foot, highly automated facility in Vance that will assemble, sequence and balance wheels for delivery to automotive production lines. This…
Alabama wins Silver Shovel award for economic development
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Area Development, an economic development-focused publication, awarded Alabama a Silver Shovel for solid business recruitment and support in 2016, keeping alive a winning streak stretching back a decade. In announcing the award, Area Development noted that Alabama’s economic development team continues to build on a proven track record of success. “It’s almost…
Alabama foreign investment tops $1.5 billion in 2016, creating 3,250 jobs
Businesses based in countries around the globe continue to find a welcoming home in Alabama, as the state’s foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $1.57 billion last year, driving job growth in several industries. Expansions accounted for the vast majority of the 79 FDI projects announced by companies in 17 different countries. But there were notable…