Worldwide automotive battery manufacturer ATLASBX has announced it will build a factory in Clarksville, Tennessee, that will create approximately 200 jobs after it opens around the year 2020, the company announced at a signing ceremony Wednesday.
ATLASBX is a sister company of Hankook Tire, which opened its tire manufacturing plant in Clarksville last October. It produces batteries for traditional passenger cars, light trucks, electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, boats and recreational vehicles.
Joining company officials at the announcement were Gov. Bill Haslam; Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Bob Rolfe; Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett; Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and other state and local officials.
The company plans to produce approximately 2.4 million batteries per year at its first plant in North America, with a dedicated absorbent glass mat (AGM) line, a high-performance battery for start-stop vehicles. ATLASBX said it chose Clarksville after an exhaustive nationwide search during which it considered locations in every U.S. state.
“The State of Tennessee is known for its intelligent, hard-working population,” said Ho Youl Pae, CEO of ATLASBX Co. Ltd. “Clarksville’s thriving economy and skilled workforce appealed to our company and led to this decision, which we believe will allow our company to experience significant growth.”
“We are proud to welcome ATLASBX to our state and thank the company for choosing Clarksville as the location for its first U.S. manufacturing facility,” said Haslam. “Our central location and business-friendly environment continue to make Tennessee the perfect place for manufacturing companies to locate operations. I appreciate ATLASBX for creating approximately 200 jobs in Montgomery County and this investment is one more example of how Tennessee will lead in the creation of high-quality jobs.”
ATLASBX aims to leverage the plant to cement its status as a top-tier battery manufacturer. The company has a 74-year history of producing high-quality batteries. It currently operates two manufacturing plants in Korea, which also is the location of its global headquarters office.
The company says it will consider building a second phase of the plant following completion of the first phase. That decision will hinge upon the initial phase’s success.
