Toyoda Gosei investing $66 million in U.S. operations

KIYOSU, Japan—Toyoda Gosei is investing $60 million in its operations in the U.S. to increase production capacity at two of its subsidiaries to keep up with growing sales of interior and exterior automotive parts in the North American market.

The investments also are in line with the transition of vehicle makers into the production of "more diverse" vehicle types, the company said Jan. 26.

In line with this evolution in automotive industry, Toyoda Gosei said it would establish "a network that can provide products with a wide range of variations." These will include different types of large painted products that are front and rear components of automobiles.

The project will involve: two factories—in Perryville, Mo., and New Albany, Indiana—belonging to TG Missouri Corp. (TGMO); and TG Kentucky's (TGKY) Lebanon plant.

TGMO will see a total investment of $21 million in the two sites, primarily on adding energy-efficient molding machines and latest-technology assembly equipment. The investment will add capacity at the Perryville site, which produces interior as well as exterior safety systems, and the New Albany site, which manufactures "interiors and exteriors" products.

The Perryville plant also will see an area expansion to 1.3 million square feet and the addition of collaborative robots and automated guided vehicles.

With a total investment of nearly $40 million, TGKY's Lebanon unit also will see an area expansion to 710,000 square feet.

The unit, which manufactures "interiors and exteriors" products as well as "functional components," will be equipped with new molding machines, painting equipment, co-bots and AGVs.

Toyoda Gosei said it expects operations to start at the facility by December 2025.

According to the group, North America is "a key market" in Toyoda Gosei's medium- to long-term business strategy.

"Going forward, the company will expand its development and production network to flexibly and rapidly meet customer needs in this essential market," the company said.