[TheCapstone]

Auto supplier to build plant in Tuscaloosa

An automotive parts supplier plans to build a new $150-million facility in east Tuscaloosa County that will employ 650 and provide parts for the Mercedes Benz U.S. International plant in Vance.

“I can say that we feel very welcome and at home here in Tuscaloosa,” said Andreas Heuser, Samvardhana Motherson Group managing director and head of Corporate Office Europe and Americas.

Gov. Robert Bentley, flanked by company and state officials in Montgomery, announced on Thursday that SMG plans to build a new 700,000-square-foot plant in Tuscaloosa that will produce painted bumpers, rocker panels, spoilers, interior door panels and other parts. Construction will begin by the end of 2015 at the proposed site, according to the announcement.

The Alabama facility will be operated by SMP, a subsidiary of SMG, and will be will be called – SMP Automotive Systems Alabama Inc.

“We have worked hard to recruit well-paying jobs for the people of this state, and I am honored to see SMG/SMP expand to Alabama,” Bentley said.

SMP’s automotive partnerships include Daimler Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Renault/Nissan and Ford.

“TCIDA looks forward to partnering with SMP as they continue to grow and prosper as a world leader in high quality interior and exterior automotive systems,” said Dara Longgrear, executive director of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority.