Yanfeng Automotive Interiors today opened its new manufacturing plant in Chattanooga to support the nearby Volkswagen factory and its Atlas sport utility vehicle production.
The new supplier plant located near Enterprise South industrial park represents an investment of $55 million and creates 325 new jobs when its fully ramped up. Currently, Yanfeng is employing about 100 people.
Yanfeng is making interior components, including floor consoles, instrument panels and trunk trim, for the Atlas which entered production in December.
"Yanfeng's decision to locate here in Chattanooga, so close to the factory, is vitally important to the success of our plant, and it is also great news for the community," said Christian Koch, CEO at Volkswagen Chattanooga.
Nathan Bowen, vice president and general manager for the Americas for Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, said its new plant is "critical to our customer strategy of supporting Volkswagen on a fully global basis."
See more in Friday's Times Free Press.