NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd along with DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee officials announced today the company will expand its automotive components and systems manufacturing plant in Maryville making it one of the largest operating campuses in DENSO Corporation’s worldwide operations.
With a workforce of more than 3,100 employees, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee is Blount County’s largest employer. The company will create 500 new jobs and invest $400 million to expand its manufacturing capabilities and construct a new warehouse. Due to expanded production needs at two of the company’s manufacturing plants, the existing warehouse will be converted to manufacturing space and a new consolidated warehouse will be built on the company’s current campus.
“We want to congratulate DENSO on its latest expansion and the 500 new jobs they will create in Maryville and Blount County,” Haslam said. “Today’s announcement is another indication of the momentum Tennessee has in the automotive manufacturing sector. As the largest employer in Blount County, DENSO supports numerous families throughout East Tennessee, and we are grateful for the company’s commitment and continued investment in our state.”
“DENSO has been an outstanding corporate citizen in Tennessee, and we appreciate the significant investment the company has made in our state and the thousands of jobs it has created for our workforce over the years,” Boyd said. “It has been less than a year since I became commissioner, and this is the second expansion DENSO has made at one of its Tennessee facilities during that time. I thank the company for creating 500 additional jobs in Blount County and wish them much continued success in the future.”
“Thanks to our skilled associates and their dedication to manufacturing the highest quality automotive technology, DENSO remains committed to investing in this region and creating jobs,” said DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee President Jack Helmboldt, who is also a DENSO Corporation global executive director. “I would also like to thank Governor Haslam, Commissioner Boyd, other state and local leaders, the Blount Chamber Partnership and TVA for their support in making this expansion possible.”
A key supplier of advanced technology to the automotive industry, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee produces starters, alternators, instrument clusters and a wide range of electronic components and systems. The Maryville campus consists of four manufacturing plants on 194 acres and has undergone eight major expansions.
“Last year when I walked through the DENSO plant it was bursting at the seams,” U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said. “These 500 new jobs are one more example of how the auto industry has spread into 80 of Tennessee’s 95 counties to become the main contributor to raising our family incomes. There is no better way to celebrate DENSO’s 25 years in Blount County.”
“Once again, the collaborative efforts of the Blount Partnership, the state of Tennessee, the cities of Alcoa and Maryville and many others have produced a win – win environment for our regional community,” Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell said. “This announcement speaks volumes in support of our efforts at local cooperative processes. We welcome the DENSO expansion and look forward to forging long lasting, mutually productive relationships.”
“We are sincerely fortunate to have such a great community partner like DENSO,” Maryville City Mayor Tom Taylor said. “Its impact on the community with not only jobs, but the way it gives back, makes it all the more special that they see the value in doing business in Blount County.”
To celebrate its 25 years in Maryville, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee has chosen to give back to its community by donating a gift $50,000 to Blount Memorial Hospital and a separate gift of $50,000 to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
“DENSO has been a huge part of this community for 25 years, and it’s wonderful that they see Blount County as a place they can continue to grow their corporation,” Alcoa City Mayor Don Mull said. “We welcome the opportunity to further our relationship to continue their sustained success for the next 25 years.”
“TVA and City of Maryville Electric Department congratulate DENSO Manufacturing on its latest announcement to add 500 new jobs in Maryville, Tennessee,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “We are pleased to partner with State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and Blount Partnership to support existing business and industry growth.”
“This is truly one of the greatest partnerships the industrial board, the cities of Maryville and Alcoa and the state of Tennessee has established,” Blount County Economic Development Board Chairman Fred Lawson said. “This investment by DENSO nearly doubles the amount of capital investment Blount County has enjoyed since 2010. The Blount Partnership thanks DENSO for choosing this community to continue its growth.”
Available positions at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee can be found at densocareers.com.
Maryville and Blount County are represented by Sen. Doug Overbey (R – Maryville), Rep. Art Swann (R – Maryville) and Rep. Bob Ramsey (R – Maryville) in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About DENSO
DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world’s major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 140,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015, totaled US$35.9 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.2 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.globaldenso.com, or www.densomediacenter.com.
About DENSO in North America
In North America, DENSO employs more than 22,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arkansas. DENSO’s North American consolidated sales totaled US$8.0 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. For more information, go to www.densocorp-na.com.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Tennessee was named 2014 and 2013 “State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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