Two years after local and state leaders gathered at the James E. Bruce Convention Center to break ground on a major new manufacturing facility, Toyota Boshoku America has officially opened its $225 million plant in Hopkinsville. The project — announced in early 2023 and under construction since that summer — is bringing 157 full-time jobs to Christian County as production ramps up.
Gov. Andy Beshear joined company officials and local leaders Tuesday to cut the ribbon on the 365,400-square-foot facility, located on roughly 50 acres in South Park, a few miles north of Interstate 24. The plant is Toyota Boshoku’s first designated “smart facility” in North America, incorporating advanced robotics, automation and digital systems designed to reduce waste and streamline production, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The Hopkinsville plant began producing seat frame mechanism parts last month, including tracks, recliners and motors used by several major automakers. The company, a global supplier of automotive interior systems, now operates five facilities in Kentucky and employs more than 1,100 people statewide.
The state approved an incentive package early in the project requiring an average hourly wage of $40, including benefits, across the 157 full-time positions. Several job openings are posted on the company’s website.
Local leaders laud opening, job growth
Hopkinsville Mayor James Knight said the community is “proud to be the New Kentucky Home for Toyota Boshoku,” adding that the company joins a growing base of 75 industries and 24 international firms already operating in the city…