LEWISBURG, Tenn.—Japan's Meiwa Industry Co. Ltd. will build its first North American plant in Lewisburg, Tenn., to make extruded parts for the auto industry.
State officials in Tennessee announced the $6.1 million project in a June 5 news release. Meiwa, based in Atsugi, Japan, expects to employ 98 at the Lewisburg site.
Meiwa molds multi-layer parts used for flooring and trunk storage systems as well as seat backs and headliners. It expects to begin production in April 2014.
The company already has contracts in hand to make parts for Japanese automakers' assembly plants in the U.S. and expects to expand to other potential customers once production is on line.