Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, the world's largest supplier of automotive interior components, is establishing a production base in South Carolina by expanding a plant that it has recently acquired from Faurecia SA.
The acquisition of the former Faurecia plant in Fountain Inn includes the existing 365,000-square-foot facility and its current employees. Yanfeng will expand the site by an additional 100,000 square feet to accommodate future business.
The operation will supply BMW AG with interior components, including door panels, instrument panels and floor consoles, for multiple models.
The project is expected to cost $71 million and create 35 new jobs to the local community.
“We are pleased to be part of the community and look forward to working with the employees at the plant, and expanding our relationship with BMW,” said Nathan Bowen, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors North America vice president and general manager.
“This global industry leader is a welcome addition to the international fabric of our automotive ecosystem, which is in a prime location for serving automotive manufacturers throughout the Southeast,” added Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO John Lummus.
Shanghai-based Yanfeng Automotive Interiors supplies instrument panels and cockpit systems, door panels, floor consoles and overhead consoles. It operates more than 100 manufacturing and technical centers in 17 countries and employs more than 28,000 globally.
Established in 2015, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is a joint venture between Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd. and Johnson Controls. The former is a wholly owned subsidiary of Huayu Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., the component group of Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd.