PULASKI, Tenn. – A new Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting plant for the production of headlamps and rear lights was inaugurated yesterday in Pulaski, Tenn. This is the company’s first lighting production plant in the United States, further strengthening an already established presence in the NAFTA region, which includes plants in Ciudad Juarez and Tepotzotlan, Mexico, in addition to the company’s R&D Center in Auburn Hills, Mich., with 180 engineers.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat S.p.A. and chairman and CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Congressman Marsha Blackburn; Pulaski Mayor Patrick Ford; and the heads of Magneti Marelli: Eugenio Razelli, CEO of Magneti Marelli, James Rosseau, country manager for Magneti Marelli North America and Stephane Vedie, CEO for Automotive Lighting North America, attended the inauguration ceremony.
The new production unit was built with an investment of approximately $54 million. The plant currently employs 90 people, however, Magneti Marelli expects employment to reach 850 within the next four years. The Government of Tennessee supported Magneti Marelli, granting a package of investment incentives.
The plant has a production capacity of 2.5 million lighting units a year, which will gradually increase to 5 million in 2016.
