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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers Begins Construction in Moses Lake, Washington

07/07/2010
SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, a partnership between BMW and the SGL Group, broke ground today on a new greenfield carbon fiber manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington. The facility will manufacture lightweight carbon reinforced plastics for use in BMW's Megacity Vehicle. The lighter material improves fuel consumption and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

"This carbon fiber plant, the most cost efficient of its kind worldwide, is a benchmark in the industry. The investment in Moses Lake underlines our strong commitment to the State of Washington and to the United States," said Andreas Wuellner, managing director of SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers. "We are on the verge of a major renaissance and paradigm shift for the automotive industry. Now a key piece of the Megacity Vehicle has a base in the USA."

BMW and SGL will invest $100 million during the first phase of development and create 80 local jobs. It will initially run two carbon fiber production lines. The plant is situated on 60 acres of land, with the option to double the size if the facility expands.

BMW's new vehicle model will debut in 2013.

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