© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spanish Auto Parts Company Opens Kansas City Plant

Elle Moxley
/
KCUR

A Spanish auto parts manufacturer will add 118 jobs in Kansas City over the next two years.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon was in town Wednesday to help cut the ribbon at Grupo Antolin's new $18 million plant, which will produce customized headliners for the vehicles such as the Ford Transit vans being manufactured at Claycomo.

"Since we first announced Grupo coming to Missouri, the company has already hired over 50 employees, including plant manufacturing and management staff," says Nixon. "That's big news for the company and a huge win for this community."

Nixon says he first met with Grupo executives last summer and stressed that Missouri could provide the highly skilled workers needed to run high-tech manufacturing equipment.

Grupo ultimately selected the location based on proximity to the Ford Claycomo plant.

"Our product is big, so transportation cost is one of the determinants we look at in every business case," says North American CEO Max Rogers. "But the support we received from the local and state government as well as the participation in this community in terms of its industrial base offers a lot to us."

Elle Moxley covered education for KCUR.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.