Area Development
Swiss-based Autoneum, a global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for the automotive industry, plans to expand its Jeffersonville, Indiana, operations center, creating approximately 220 new jobs by 2018.

The company will lease and equip a 300,000 square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility at the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville. The new facility expands the company’s North American manufacturing footprint to 13 plants, which includes joint ventures, and will support continued growth for Autoneum with multiple North American OEM customers.

“We are excited to announce this new facility and to become a part of the Jeffersonville and Southern Indiana communities,” said Martin Hirzel, CEO of Autoneum. “This expansion of Autoneum’s production capacity in order to meet increasing customer demands is further evidence that our lightweight acoustic and thermal management products are indeed valued by our customers, the automobile manufacturers. This is even more so, since Autoneum provides products and technologies which focus on improving vehicle fuel economy and acoustics, a feature which is currently particularly demanded by the OEMs.” Autoneum, which currently employs more than 9,500 around the world, has begun the process of hiring engineering and managerial positions, with manufacturing hiring to begin toward the end of the year.

“Indiana has established itself around the world as the location of choice for businesses to invest and create jobs,” said Gov. Mike Pence. “Our competitive tax climate, strong workforce and unmatched infrastructure help global companies like Autoneum continue to recognize Indiana as a state that works for business.”

As an incentive the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Autoneum North America up to $2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. River Ridge Development Authority approved additional property tax abatement at the request of One Southern Indiana.

“To be the site of choice for a company of Autoneum’s caliber is a testament to the many advantages the city of Jeffersonville offers a company’s bottom line,” said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore. “We could not be more excited to welcome automotive related jobs and investment to our growing portfolio of diverse businesses choosing Southern Indiana as the place for success.”