TANNER – The Bocar Group, an international automotive components manufacturer, made a bold statement this week about its plans for expanding into North America by opening their first U.S.-based manufacturing plant. Where? In Huntsville!
Based on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement, senior company officials from the Mexico City-based supplier joined Huntsville city leaders to celebrate the opening of the more than 350,000-square-foot production facility on Bibb Garrett Road in Tanner.
The new plant has 323,000 square feet of production space, 18,000 square feet of office space along with quality laboratories, a training center, and employee services area.
The company projects that by the end of 2022, the facility will employ 420 employees who will work on 21 different products.
“With our first plant in the U.S. we are confident that Bocar Group is prepared to face the challenges of the global automotive industry such as weight reduction, more efficient engines and electrification, which will also bring new opportunities,” said Marcus Baur, president of Bocar Group. “We are expanding our international presence and increasing our competitive advantage through innovation and technology. Highly specialized manufacturing processes and components are the keys to ensure value-added products and services for our customers.”
Ignacio Moreno, CEO of Bocar Group, said they are excited about the continued expansion of their investment in the U.S. market.
“We are confident that we will achieve significant growth here,” he said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The new plant will accelerate our development to a higher level, by introducing new technologies and enhancing our product portfolio.”
“This will streamline the manufacturing process, improve quality, and provide the best service to meet our customers’ needs and further expand our presence in this country.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said he was pleased and honored to have Bocar Group in Huntsville.
“Bocar Group led the way in the City’s efforts to develop a robust automotive supplier ecosystem, and their established presence drew many others to our community,” said Battle.
By the end of this year, Bocar’s employees will develop and produce structural, power train, and electric drive unit components, among others. The new plant is the Group’s first manufacturing facility in the United States.
“Bocar Group has a long history in the automotive sector, with nearly 40 years supplying parts to our customers in the United States,” said Robbie Day, plant manager for Bocar US in Alabama. “Next year, we will celebrate 65 years of serving the most important companies in the industry. Thanks to the support of the Alabama government, the construction of this plant has been successfully completed.”
Day was followed by Collin Daly, chairman of the Limestone County Commission.
“We are very excited you are here in Limestone County and want to thank you for investing with our community,” he said.
Aluminum parts are crucial to achieving automotive weight reduction and increased gas mileage targets, which in turn becomes a strategic material to comply with environmental regulations and build sustainable mobility.
Since 2014, Bocar Group has earned recognition from its customers, thanks to outstanding performance and contribution to what has become a global commitment: To protect the environment.
Bocar concentrates its production efforts in three business units including aluminum die casting, aluminum semi-permanent molds and plastics.
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