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Automotive Suppliers

Did You Know?

Chilton County’s Cluster of Automotive Suppliers

Adient

  • The largest employer in Chilton County,  Adient is a leader in automotive industry in manufacturing seating. In fact, one out of every three seats in the world of automobiles comes from an Adient facility. Adient produces 25 million seats a year in their global locations. The Adient plant within Chilton County employs 950 people and works to supply a wide range automotive companies. Click here for more information about the plant.

KUMI Manufacturing

Major Automotive OEM Plants in Alabama

Mercedes

  • Located an hour from Chilton County in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Mercedes has their worldwide production for the GLE, GLS and GLE Coupe SUVs, as well as for the C-Class sedan for North America. In 2018, the plant produced approximately 240,000 vehicles and currently employs more than 3,700. Additionally, Mercedes supports 10,000+ jobs at suppliers and service providers in the region. In 2017, Mercedes announced a $1 billion expansion into the region. Learn more about the facility and expansion.

Hyundai

  • Located 30 minutes from Chilton County in Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai has a $1.7 billion plant employing over 3,000 people. This plant produces Hyundai Sonatas, Elantras, and Santa Fes.  Over 72 suppliers have located across North America to help support this plant. Learn more about the facility.

Toyota

  • Located two hours from Chilton County, Toyota has a car and truck engine factory in Huntsville, Alabama, which manufactures engines for the Toyota Tacoma, Highlander, Tundra, and Sequoia.  The plant employs 1,100+.

Honda

  • Located one hour from Chilton County, Honda has an auto factory in Lincoln, Alabama, where they manufacture the Honda Odyssey, Pilot, and Ridgeline.  The plant employs 4,000 people.

Proximity to Automotive OEM Plants in Southeast

Mazda Toyota Joint Venture Announcement

Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have established their new joint-venture company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.” (MTMUS) that will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021. The new plant will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of Mazda’s crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla. The facility is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs. Toyota and Mazda are investing $1.6 billion towards this project with equal funding contributions.

Number of Automotive and Automotive Support Companies Within Our Labor Shed

  • 39 Machine Shops
  • 23 Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing Companies
  • 15 Plastics Product Manufacturing Companies
  • 12 Foundries
  • 8 Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Companies
  • 7 Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing Companies
  • 5 Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing Companies
  • 4 Engine, Turbine, & Power Transmission Equipment Companies
  • 3 Metal Coating and Allied Services to Manufacturers Companies
  • 3 Automobile Manufacturing Companies
  • 2 Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping Companies
  • 1 Paint and Coating Manufacturing Companies
  • 1 Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing Companies
  • 1 Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing Companies
  • 1 Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing Companies
  • 1 Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing Companies
  • 1 Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing Companies

Engineers in Labor Shed

  • 485 Industrial Engineers
  • 379 Electrical Engineers
  • 304 Mechanical Engineers

Skilled Labor

The labor shed has seen the following growth in Automotive related jobs over the last 5 years:

  • 88% growth in people employed in Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing
  • 63% growth in people employed in Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
  • 56% growth in people employed as Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 37% growth in people employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 32% growth in people employed in Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
  • 22% growth in people employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 20% growth in people employed as Mechanical Engineers
  • 19% growth in people employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  • 16% growth of people employed as Industrial Engineers
  • 9% growth in people employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
  • 6% growth in people employed as Electrical Engineers
  • 4% growth in people employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal
  • 3% growth in people employed as Industrial Engineering Technicians
  • 3% growth in people employed in Automobile Manufacturing
  • 2% growth in people employed as Mechanical Drafters

The Chilton County labor shed is home to highly skilled workers in the automotive sector.  Below are a few examples of how our workforce compares to the United States average:

  • 28.7 times the US average of people employed in Automobile Manufacturing
  • 12.5 times the US average of people employed in Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing
  • 7.8 times the US average of people employed in Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing
  • 6.7 times the US average of people employed in Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
  • 3.9 times the US average of people employed in Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
  • 3.7 times the US average of people employed in Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
  • 3.1 times the US average of people employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
  • 3 times the US average in of people employed Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
  • 2.6 times the US average of people employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 2.5 times the US average of people employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal
  • Over the US average of people employed in Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
  • Over the US average of people employed as Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Over the US average of people employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • Over the US average of people employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  • Over the US average of people employed as Tool and Die Makers
  • Over the US average of people employed as Electrical Engineers

The following quantities of skilled workers are currently employed in our region:

  • 5,285 employed as Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers
  • 4,701 workers employed in Automobile Manufacturing
  • 1,205 workers employed in Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing
  • 1,199 employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 857 employed as Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  • 837 employed as Electricians
  • 725 workers employed in Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
  • 615 employed as Machinists
  • 579 employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal
  • 539 workers employed in Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
  • 485 workers employed as Industrial Engineers
  • 417 workers employed in Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
  • 379 employed as Electrical Engineers
  • 337 employed as Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 336 employed as Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 315 workers employed in Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
  • 304 employed as Mechanical Engineers
  • 254 workers employed in Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing
  • 202 workers employed in Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
  • 149 employed as Tool and Die Makers
  • 143 employed as Sheet Metal Workers
  • 114 employed as Industrial Engineering Technicians

Automotive Supply Chain

The Chilton County labor shed has an advantage to recruit automotive companies based on a review of industry purchases within the region and supply chain. Companies within these sectors would have an opportunity due to the demand for automotive products. This is based on the following supply chain statistics:

Training and Education

Auburn University Students in any engineering major may choose to minor in automotive engineering and manufacturing. Three curriculum tracks are available: industrial and systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and car team tracks. The courses required for the minor may require prerequisites that will not count toward the student’s major or toward the minor.Auburn University. Click here to learn more.

The Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies (CAVT) is a University of Alabama Research Center dedicated to the advancement of vehicle technology. Based on unique, interdisciplinary research and education programs, it strives to provide the vehicular industry with novel ideas, scientific consultation, as well as new generations of engineers and scientists formed in the latest technologies in this field. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on the campus of the University of Alabama, it is at the heart of the automotive industry emergence in the United States Southeast region. Learn more about CAVT.

AIDT is recognized as one of the top 5 workforce training agencies in the US. Their services include:

  • Pre-Employment (Training Development, Videography, Media and Project Support)
  • Post-Employment/On-the-Job Training Support
  • Maintenance Assessments
  • Safety Assistance and Training
  • Leadership Development
  • Process Improvement (Continuous Improvement)

Alabama Technology Network (ATN):

Today’s demanding global marketplace not only encourages continual improvements in profitability and productivity—it demands it. That is where this innovative collaboration comes in, a strategic partnership between Alabama’s community colleges, the University of Alabama System, Auburn University, and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

Strategic advice and training is available from ATN in more than a half dozen areas including:

  • Information technology
  • Lean manufacturing
  • Quality systems and engineering
  • Environmental safety and health
  • Human resources and organizational development
  • Business services and management
  • Industrial maintenance
  • Engineering and technical services

Community College Programs

Jefferson State Community College offers an Automotive Manufacturing Technology Program with the following courses:

  • Introduction to Automotive Concepts
  • Manufacturing Fundamentals
  • Blueprint Reading for Manufacturing
  • Principles of Industrial Electricity
  • Programmable Logic Controllers
  • Introduction to Robotics
  • Industrial Controls
  • Fundeamentals of Industrial Hydraulics and Pneumatics
  • Principles of Refrigeration
  • Die Maintenace and Repari
  • Mechanilcal Tools
  • Blueprint Reading for Machinists
  • Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
  • Basic CAD
  • Introduction to Weld Technologies and Projection Welding Applications
  • Principles of Industrial Maintenance Welding and Metal Cutting Techniques
  • Special Topics (Welding)
  • Advanced PLC Application and Design
  • Preventive and Predictive Maintenance
  • Advanced Motor Drives
  • Computer Integrated Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Quality Auditing
  • Advanced CAD
  • Advanced Solid Modeling
  • Robotic Programming and Welding
  • Robotic Mig Welding

Utilities

Electric Utilities

Alabama Power

  • Operated by the Southern Company
  • $5.5 billion in annual revenue
  • Supplies over 1.4 million customers
  • Alabama Power actively supports economic and community development throughout its area.
  • Click Here to read more about economic development support.

Central Alabama Electric Co-Op

  • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative is a not for profit, member-owned electric distribution utility.
  • The cooperative’s service area covers most of the rural areas of Autauga, Elmore, Coosa, and Chilton counties as well as members in Tallapoosa, Talladega, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, and Lowndes counties.
  • The cooperative is a $199 million company with 5,500 miles of line.
  • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative actively supports economic and community development throughout its area.
  • Click Here to read more about economic development support.

Natural Gas

Spire

  • Serves more than 1.7 million customers
  • Fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country

Transportation:

Road Access

  • Chilton County is located on Interstate 65, halfway between Birmingham and Montgomery.

Class I Rail Access

  • Rail service is provided by CSX and Norfolk Southern.

Air Service