On Tuesday, Clarios, a manufacturer of low-voltage battery technologies, announced an expansion project valued at up to $390 million to upgrade a pair of facilities in St. Joseph, Missouri, to increase production. The effort is expected to create 123 new jobs and retain some 936 positions.
The company's automotive battery manufacturing plant and distribution center will be modernized to expand production capacity to meet rising demand for auto batteries. It will also help the Glendale, Wisconsin-based company mitigate tariff exposure and logistics costs by onshoring more production.
Clarios batteries power nearly every type of vehicle—the company says they are found in 1 of 3 cars on the road. Both the factory and the distribution center in Missouri have operated in the area for about 25 years.
Clarios will benefit from the Missouri Works Program, a tool that helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation.
The company will receive an estimated $5.6 million through the Missouri Works Program. The company may also receive assistance from Missouri One Start, a division of the Department of Economic Development, that helps with recruitment and training.
Clarios has 16 manufacturing plants and nearly 6,000 employees in the U.S. Natalie Hawn, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, said the city beat out at least two other domestic Clarios facilities for the investment.
St. Joseph Mayor Larry Miller said, “As a former employee of the company, I am especially proud to see this continued commitment to our community.”
The company reported about $10.6 billion in revenue last year, some 80% driven by aftermarket sales.
Clarios has 18,000 employees worldwide, spread across more than 50 facilities. This week, the company completed the acquisition of three Ecobat battery recycling centers in Germany and Austria, significantly expanding its recycling footprint in Europe and strengthening its closed-loop battery supply chain. Clarios products are recyclable, and the company said it recycles 8,000 batteries an hour throughout its network.
The Missouri investment is part of a $6 billion plan announced last year to expand U.S. manufacturing. The blueprint called for about $600 million earmarked for facility modernization efforts.
Clarios plays a key role in Project Vault, a new supply chain security initiative from the Trump administration, which established the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve, an “independently governed public‑private partnership that will store essential raw materials in facilities across the United States.”
Project Vault will be funded with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and some $1.67 billion in private capital. GE Vernova and Boeing are also included in the effort.
