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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

SF Motors Expands Operations in Mishawaka, Indiana

05/31/2018
SF Motors, a global intelligent electric vehicle company, plans to establish manufacturing operations with the acquisition of AM General’s commercial plant in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The company expects to create up to 467 jobs by 2020. As part of SF Motors’ job creation plans, state officials said the company intends to hire many of displaced workers from the manufacturing facility formerly-owned by AM General.

SF Motors will invest more than $160 million, including the acquisition, to renovate and equip a 675,500-square-foot manufacturing facility, which served as the former AM General commercial assembly plant at 12900 McKinley Highway in Mishawaka.

The vacant facility, which was acquired by SF Motors in November, will be equipped to manufacture at least two lines of its first EV models and serve as the company’s primary U.S.-based manufacturing plant. The 35-acre campus will feature advanced automation and house the company’s body and paint shop, general assembly and office administration. With its growth, SF Motors plans to begin trial production before the end of the year.

“Northern Indiana has a rich history of manufacturing vehicles, a mature supplier network and a highly skilled talent pool with luxury automotive experience. All these advantages make Mishawaka the perfect location to manufacture our intelligent connected EVs,” said John Zhang, Founder & CEO of SF Motors. “We are proud to partner with Indiana to restore up to 467 jobs to the local economy. We see this partnership as the beginning of a bright and prosperous future.”

Pending approval from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors, the IEDC will offer SF Motors Inc. up to $3.847 million in conditional tax credits and up to $500,000 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.

The IEDC also offered up to $653,000 in conditional tax credits from the Industrial Recovery Tax Credit (“DINO”) program, which encourages companies to invest in former industrial facilities requiring significant rehabilitation or remodeling expenses. In addition, the county of St. Joseph will consider additional incentives at the request of the St. Joseph County Office of Economic Development.

Founded in 2016, SF Motors is headquartered in Silicon Valley with facilities across the world, including manufacturing sites in China and Indiana and research and development facilities in the U.S., Germany and China. SF Motors currently employs more than 300 associates across the U.S. To support its production and continued growth, the company has already started hiring and plans to have around 200 people working at the facility by the end of this year.

"Indiana's reputation as a destination for business continues to be heard across the U.S. and around the world, attracting companies like SF Motors," Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. "With a world of options, we're thrilled SF Motors chose to expand in Indiana. We look forward to witnessing their continued success in Indiana as they develop 21st-century solutions with the help of our talented Hoosier workforce."

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