EV Manufacturer Opening Indiana Plant
California-based SF Motors has detailed plans for a manufacturing hub in Mishawaka, Ind. The electric vehicle maker said it will invest more than $160 million to purchase, renovate and equip the St. Joseph County plant and create up to 467 jobs by 2020. The company says many of the hires will be displaced workers from the facility, which was formerly owned by AM General.
This story by Andy Ober originally appeared in Inside Indiana Business.
SF Motors initially announced plans to acquire the Mishawaka commercial assembly plant in June of 2017, saying it would produce “environmentally-friendly, intelligent” electronic vehicles there. At the time, the California company said the only customer contract there was slated to expire at the end of 2017, which would result in a production line shutting down.
The automaker will equip the facility to manufacture at least two lines of its first electric vehicle models. The plant will serve as SF Motors’ primary U.S.-based manufacturing operation and house its body and paint shop, general assembly and office administration operations. The company hopes to begin trial production by the end of the year.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. plans to offer SF Motors more than $4 million in conditional tax credits and training grants based on the job creation plans. St. Joseph County is considering additional incentives.