International Automotive Components (IAC) celebrated the opening of a new manufacturing operation this week in Arteaga, Mexico.

With the addition of the new 90,000-square-foot (8,361-square-meter) Arteaga operation, the company now has eight manufacturing sites in Mexico, increasing its footprint to 81 manufacturing locations in 19 countries. IAC also is supported by a ninth location in the country – a customer technical and engineering center located in Toluca, Mexico.

The new IAC Arteaga plant, which currently employs approximately 320 people, will serve as a dedicated center of expertise for compression bonded cut, sew and wrapped highly crafted automotive interior components, including instrument panels, door panels, floor consoles, armrests and bolsters. As one of the industry’s leading materials engineering experts, IAC produces a wide range of premium cut-and-sew products, including leather, simulated leather and cloth solutions featuring an array of custom stitch patterns.

IAC President and CEO James Kamsickas took part in the inauguration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by employees, customers and local dignitaries. “Our new Arteaga operation joins 17 other IAC cut-and-sew locations on four continents, all of which are in place to support the industry shift toward more highly crafted interiors,” said Kamsickas. “The shift has been driven by OEM demand for brand differentiation and consumer demand for luxurious appearance and improved haptic response in their vehicle interiors.”

Including the new Arteaga plant and three other recent company plant expansions in Mexico, IAC says it is in a position to support the automotive industry’s continued growth in the country. According to a 2015 IHS forecast, approximately 25 percent of the world’s additional new vehicle production is expected to take place in Mexico over the next five years, equating to approximately 5 million vehicles per year above current production by 2021.

With the new Arteaga operation, IAC has inaugurated 10 facilities in seven countries in the past 20 months, increasing its total number of locations to 101.