South Korean automotive supplier Kamtec Auto USA announced plans to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Auburn, Alabama. The company expects the $9.2 million project, which will provide advanced technical components for engine control and electric management in hybrid vehicles, to create about 50 jobs over the next three years.
Kamtec will initially operate from a leased facility in Auburn before relocating into a new manufacturing facility that Seohan Auto USA plans to build. Established in 2001, Kamtec is an affiliate of the Seoul-based Seohan Group, which has operated in Auburn since 2007.
“This is a win for Alabama and a great example of how automotive manufacturers in our state create opportunities for our communities by capturing follow-up investments by their suppliers,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said.
Kamtec Auto USA President Chang-Yeong Seo said Auburn’s proximity to Hyundai Motor’s plant in Montgomery and Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia, will allow the company to manufacture and supply its products locally for the U.S. market.
“We look forward to partnering with Auburn University to identify talent for our technical positions,” Seo said. “We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the City of Auburn and the State of Alabama. Our goal is to contribute to the balanced, sustainable growth of our customers, partners, employees and the communities in which we operate.”
