This Week:

• Jinbei GM Begins Regular Production Of Chevrolet Blazer, Opens First Retailer In Shenzhen
  .
• All New 2002 Ford Explorer Now Available in Puerto Rico
  .
• BMW Motorcycles Worldwide More Popular Than Ever - DM 230 Million
  .

• Volvo Car Corporation Strengthens Key Markets Through Global Executive Changes
  .

• GM Forms Diversity Marketing And Sales Organization
  .
• Going, Going, Gone! 2002 Neiman Marcus Edition Lincoln Blackwood Sells Out
  .
• Volkswagen presents a new fuel and transmission strategy
  .
• BMW Financial Services Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
  .
• Akebono to Build Fourth New Plant in Kentucky

© 1998 - 2001 Copyright & 
Disclaimer
Automotive Intelligence,
www.autointell.com
All Rights Reserved .
For questions please contact
editor@autointell.com  

News of  May 09, 2001

Akebono to Build Fourth New Plant in Kentucky

In a May 7, 2001 groundbreaking ceremony in Springfield, Ky., Mayor John Cecconi presents Akebono Brake Industry Co. Chairman, President and CEO Chuck Nobumoto with a Springfield historic building lithograph, with Director of Administration Alan Swiech looking on the automotive industry, announced construction of a new $70 million manufacturing facility, the fourth Akebono plant located in Kentucky.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - In a groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday, Akebono Corporation, a leading supplier of friction materials and brake products to the automotive industry, announced it will begin construction of a new $70 million manufacturing facility in Springfield, Ky. The new plant will be the fourth Akebono manufacturing facility in the U.S., all of which are located in Kentucky.

The new plant will produce brake pads for original equipment manufacturers as well as for the automotive aftermarket, and will employ 200-250 persons. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, incorporating Akebono's high-quality production technologies, will initially cover 126,000 square feet, with expansion plans to ultimately increase the size to 190,000 square feet. Akebono plans to move equipment into the plant in the first quarter of 2002, becoming fully operational by the third quarter.

According to Chuck Nobumoto, chairman, president and CEO of parent company Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., "The growth of our brake pad business in North America has been steadily increasing. To keep up with the projected demand, we have to create additional capacity to meet our customers' needs."

"This is exciting news both for Washington County and for Kentucky," said Kentucky Governor Paul Patton. "It says that Akebono's current employees in Kentucky are so dedicated and productive that the company wants to build an even stronger future here. Also, Akebono's decision to expand its number of Kentucky facilities shows the rest of the corporate world that it's just good business to locate in the Commonwealth."

"Once again, the work ethic of the Kentucky worker proved to be a major factor in the decision to expand in Kentucky," added Gene Strong, Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. "With our quality workforce and our central location, Kentucky has become the location of choice for many of the best companies in the world."

(May 8, 2001)

[Homepage] [ News] [ Companies] [ Management] [ Publications] [ Events] [ Careers]
[Services] [Discussion] [ Guestbook] [ Search]