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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

BeijingWest Industries Plans First United States Manufacturing Plant In Greenfield, Indiana

04/13/2017
BeijingWest Industries, Co. Ltd., a China-based premier chassis supplier that designs and manufactures brake and suspension systems for the automotive market, plans to locate its first U.S. production facility, 25 miles east of Indianapolis, in Greenfield, Indiana.

The company, which provides the highly-acclaimed MagneRide suspension system, will invest more than $80 million to build and equip a new 276,514-square-foot manufacturing facility in Greenfield's Progress Park. The project is expected to create up to 441 new, high-wage jobs by 2021.

“BWI is excited to be working with the state of Indiana and Hancock County on this extremely important project," said John Beres III, Assistant President and Global Director of BWI. "We are appreciative of the support given to us at the state and local level. This plant will expand our North American footprint to support our U.S. customer base.”

The global company, which generated $2 billion of new business in 2016, plans to break ground on the new facility this summer and launch production in August 2019. With its growth, BWI expects to increase its production by 4 million parts per year to meet the continued demand from its customers, which include Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Porsche.

“BWI had options when deciding where to locate its first U.S. facility, and I’m thrilled they chose the Hoosier state,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “Indiana is home to the second largest automotive industry in the nation, and we offer companies like BWI close proximity to their customers. As a state, we must continue to provide the skilled workforce, world-class infrastructure and pro-growth tax climate that attracts and supports business and residents.”

BWI, a joint venture of Shougang Corporation and Beijing Fangshan State-Owned Asset Management, plans to begin hiring for machine operators, maintenance and lab technicians in February 2018. In addition, the company plans to work with Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana to help develop workforce training.

Pending approval from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors, the IEDC will offer BWI North America Inc. up to $4,550,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Greenfield will consider additional incentives at the request of the Hancock County Economic Development Council.

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