Hitachi renovating Kentucky plant to start building electric motors
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Updated: 6:54 PM EST Jan 15, 2021
The Associated Press
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Updated: 6:54 PM EST Jan 15, 2021
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economic development, Uh, then a another tough covert report, but ah, little lower on cases than the last couple weeks, but a really hard death count today and then a whole lot of information on on vaccines, uh, in in a couple of different ways. Andi. I think most of that information is pretty exciting. And then we'll make sure that we also continue to explain what some of the various numbers that we post mean and what we have control over and what we don't. But let's start out with some really positive news for the Commonwealth. Today we announced another great economic development project for Kentucky and one that signals a shift towards the future of the automotive industry. Leaders at Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America are establishing a new 200 job operation in Maria to produce motors for Elektronik vehicles manufactured by Honda of America. This new business is gonna provide quality job opportunities for those in Maria and in Madison County and around with an average hourly wage of $27 including benefits. It also positions us as a state to not only better serve the automotive industry, which has so many facilities in Kentucky, but to be on the cutting edge of the future of that industry, not to be a provider off of parts of the past, but making sure that we are ensuring the future of our automotive jobs. Here in Kentucky, this new Hitachi subsidiary was established in Kentucky in March of this year, and company leaders worked diligently over the past 10 months to navigate the challenges caused by this pandemic. And to make this a reality, the project is going to use a sister facility, uh, in Maria, already to begin operations and works being done right now. Toe renovate. That space company has created 20 jobs already, and that's gonna grow to about 200 is production begins in 2022 or early 2023. Hitachi has been a great partner and a great company in Kentucky for years, with four facilities currently operating in the state. That's two manufacturing plants in Maria in manufacturing and warehouse operations in Harrisburg. I'm thrilled that this company has such a positive view of our workforce and and of it being a great place to live, that they continue to expand and even pick us for some of the most high end and high tech parts of their business for the future. A long term commitment of companies like Hitachi reiterates what we already know, that we have all the tools to build a brighter future and a better economy. If we take advantage of the opportunities we have before us, I'd like to welcome Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems, America to Team Kentucky. I can't wait to see what the future has for this company. Think about it, folks. In the midst of a pandemic, we have a next generation company that's gonna open up. Employ 200 folks in Maria. That means that we can fight for our future even while we're fighting this virus.