Press Release
June 13, 2012
Economic Development
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty announced today that Magneti Marelli will expand its Pulaski outfit, a $53.7 million investment that will create 800 new jobs.
Magneti Marelli is a top global automotive systems and components supplier, and a new automotive lighting operation will be housed inside the company’s existing Pulaski facility.
“Congratulations to Magneti Marelli on this announcement,” Haslam said. “Our Jobs4TN economic development strategy includes strong emphasis on several industry clusters, such as the automotive industry, in which the state holds a distinct competitive advantage and on expanding existing Tennessee businesses. The addition of this lighting operation to the Pulaski site is welcome news to Giles County and the state.”
“This is great news for Pulaski, and I am grateful to the company for their continued confidence in our state,” Hagerty said. “This announcement is a testament to the exceptional workforce in Pulaski and the surrounding areas, and the creation of these new jobs will have a large impact on the residents of this area. With the strongest balance sheet in the United States, Tennessee stands out to global companies like Magneti Marelli who undertake a worldwide review in determining where to locate and expand their operation.”
Along with manufacturing sites in Juarez and Tepotzotlan, Mexico, the Pulaski operation rounds out the company’s lighting division. Magneti Marelli’s lighting division is one of the world leaders in the automotive lighting sector, having supplied about 20 million headlamps and about 22 million rearlamps to global carmakers in 2011.
“What a great day for the citizens of Giles County,” Janet Vanzant, county executive, said. “Today's good news means jobs, and that is always good. Magneti Marelli has been a great corporate citizen for several years, and we all welcome this expansion. I want to thank the State of Tennessee, our local economic development office and all the other partners that contributed to the success of this project.”
“What a wonderful day in Pulaski,” Mayor Pat Ford said. “Magneti Marelli's announcement today has to be the biggest economic development project in the history of Pulaski and the jobs that will be created are sorely needed. I want to thank Governor Haslam, Commissioner Hagerty and his staff for helping us with this project. Magneti Marelli is already is a valued member of our industrial family and I know the lighting division will be successful in our community.”
“Today’s announcement is good news for Giles County, but this project is going to have a very positive impact throughout all of southern middle Tennessee,” Dan Speer, executive director, Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Council, said. “A great deal of hard work and cooperation went in to this project, and I too would like to thank Gov. Haslam, Commissioner Hagerty, along with the entire ECD staff, TVA and the local Workforce Development Board. Many people contributed to the success of this project, and I particularly would like to thank plant manager Kim Ketchum and her management team for their invaluable contributions.”
“TVA congratulates Magneti Marelli on their decision to locate a new automotive lighting manufacturing operation that expands its existing site in Pulaski,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of economic development. “We are privileged to work with Magneti Marelli and economic development partners, including the State of Tennessee, PES Energize, City of Pulaski/Giles County leaders, to facilitate jobs growth.”
Magneti Marelli has 83 production units, 11 research and development centers and 26 application centers in 18 countries. Magneti Marelli’s 34,000 employees work on electronic systems; lighting; powertrain; suspension systems and shock absorbers; exhaust systems; plastic components and modules; and motorsport and aftermarket parts and services.
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