Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, the China-based joint venture created to take over Johnson Controls Inc.'s auto interior unit, will build a $55 million factory in Chattanooga to supply components to Volkswagen AG's nearby assembly plant.
Yanfeng will supply interior components including floor consoles, instrument panels and trunk trim for future VW models. The new plant will employ 325. Production is slated to begin in late 2016.
Yanfeng's U.S. facility lists job openings in Chattanooga for injection molding, materials planning, logistics, human resources, a quality engineer, plant manager and other positions.
VW plans to make a midsize SUV at its Tennessee plant starting late next year. Shanghai-based Yanfeng was formed in 2015 as a joint venture between Johnson Controls and Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co., a subsidiary of Huayu Automotive Systems Co., which is the component group of SAIC Motor Corp.
Johnson Controls has a 30 percent stake.
The joint venture, with projected sales of about $7.5 billion annually, is one of the world's largest automotive interiors suppliers.