Auto parts manufacturer Minghua USA Inc. has chosen Troy, Mich., as the site for its North American headquarters.
The company, a subsidiary of Jiangnan MPT Co. Ltd. of Jiangnan, China, plans to spend $8.4 million on a facility to house sales and research and development to support its North American operations. Minghua USA opened an auto bumper injection molding facility in Greer, S.C., last year.
Minghua USA qualifies for a $500,000 performance-based grant under the Michigan Business Development Program. The Troy location beat competing sites in Ohio and South Carolina. Michigan Economic Development Corp. predicts the project will result in 50 jobs in Troy.
William Trapani, general manager of Minghua's temporary business center in Troy, declined repeated requests for information on the Troy project.
Minghua USA built a 260,000-square-foot facility in Greer last year. The South Carolina Department of Commerce estimated the company would employ about 150 at the site by its fifth year of operation. Business newspapers estimated the firm would spend $30 million on the first phase of the factory and another $20 million in a second phase. One report estimated annual sales from the Greer operation will run at about $50 million and initial employment would be about 115.
Minghua USA landed contracts to injection mold spoiler assembly and seat parts for BMW AG's new 3 and 7 series vehicles, a published report stated. Greer is the home of BMW's U.S. assembly plant. Mingua's parent company supplies BMW with parts in other global locations.
Before Minghua USA started up in Greer, it advertised for employees for its injection molding and painting operations. It also sought quality engineers to be responsible for BMW and Magna International programs.
In a 2016 South Carolina Government announcement revealing the Greer project, Jiangnan MPT chairman and general manager Robert Cao stated, "This investment in South Carolina and in Spartanburg County will further strengthen Jiangnan's effort to expand its global leadership role in the plastic molding industry,"
Jiangnan MPT claimed it is one of the largest suppliers of plastic parts in China's automotive industry. Its sales in the first half of 2015 were about 1.6 billion yuan ($246 million).
"We welcome Minghua's North American headquarters to Michigan and thank the company for its decision to locate here rather than another state," noted MEDC CEO Jeff Mason in a news release.
