Expansion Management

German Automotive Supplier Opens New US Headquarters in Mississippi

Feb. 6, 2014

The project represents a total funding of $30 million over the next 5 years and will create up to 650 new jobs in two phases.

Adrienne Selko

Grammer AG, a manufacturer of seating systems and automotive interiors, last week broke ground on a manufacturing plant in Mississippi. The site will also become the company’s U.S. headquarters.

“The North American automotive and commercial vehicle markets are extremely important factors in the growth strategy of the Grammer Group,” says Hartmut Müller, CEO of Grammer AG.

“We now generate even more than 15% of our global sales in the NAFTA region and aim to double the sales in this region almost over the next five years,” Müller added.

The project represents a total funding of $30 million over the next 5 years and will create up to 650 new jobs in two phases.

“Our automotive industry has seen amazing growth in recent years, and Grammer’s announcement further positions Mississippi as a key player in the Southern Automotive Corridor,” said Governor Phil Bryant.

The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for the build-out of the facility in which Grammer will operate. The agency also provided assistance to ship equipment to the site, for workforce training and to help construct the Phase II facility.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.