By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
BOCAR, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, broke ground on a $115 million new plant in Huntsville, creating more than 300 jobs in a project that adds to the state’s booming automotive manufacturing sector.
Gov. Kay Ivey attended the groundbreaking.
“Delighted to join BOCAR in the groundbreaking to celebrate their $115 million investment in Limestone County,” Ivey said. “This Tier 1 auto parts supplier will continue to show the strength of Alabama’s auto industry.”
“We are glad to invest in Huntsville, Alabama, where good infrastructure, talented people and a host of excellent universities will develop our business while contributing positively to the social and economic development of this community,” BOCAR Group Chief Financial Officer Gerd Dressler said.
The BOCAR Group is a German company with a presence in the United States, Germany, Mexico and Japan. It is a high-end technology and quality-driven automotive company with extensive experience producing high pressure aluminum die casting, plastics and machining.
“The state of Alabama made economic history today,” Economic developer Nicole Jones said. “Bocar’s selection of Alabama as their first site in the United States demonstrates confidence in our workforce, quality of life, and business climate. The auto-supplier’s future 350,000 square foot plant as well as the creation of over 300 jobs reaffirms our state’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. The sought-after advanced manufacturing jobs will provide wages Alabamians can live on with a worldwide company that invests in its workforce.”
Nicole Jones added, “Today we were honored to hear BOCAR’s story of commitment to family, excellence, human capital, and future generations. We thank BOCAR Group for their investment in Huntsville, Limestone County, and the entire state of Alabama, a presence that highlights the company’s important role in our state’s positioning as a national and global leader in the automotive industry.”
“It’s great to have leaders from BOCAR and our economic development partners from Limestone County and Huntsville/Madison County Chamber back together for this groundbreaking. BOCAR is investing $115 million and bringing 300 jobs to their new Huntsville facility,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in a statement.
Battle and Ivey are both running for the Republican nomination for governor on June 5, 2018.
The plant will be built on a site strategically located on the northern side of Bibb Garrett Road, adjacent to Interstate 65, in the Huntsville portion of Limestone County. This will allow the company quick access to be able to ship parts to automotive companies in the region.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2018 and production should begin two years later.
“Alabama is a premier destination for the automotive and automotive supplier industries, and we are proud to welcome Bocar to our state,” Ivey said.
