Wieselburg, Austria-based lighting systems manufacturer ZKW Group GmbH is investing $108 million (100 million euros) to expand its new production plant in Silao, Mexico.
The 75,000-square-foot expansion will create about 1,100 new jobs by 2025.
The lighting systems specialist announced the next expansion phase at a ceremonial opening of the plant's most recent 169,000-square-foot expansion.
"At the same time, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the next expansion phase," a Dec. 1 news release said, "the foundation stone for the next expansion is already being laid."
"ZKW is accelerating its international growth and investing disproportionately in the Silao, Mexico, location as a strategic orientation for the important American vehicle market," the release said.
"With the expansion, we are increasing production capacities and creating around 2,000 new jobs to manufacture innovative lighting systems for customers in the strategically important NAFTA economic region," CEO Wilhelm Steger said in the release.
"The long-term goal is to further strengthen ZKW's growth strategy, especially for the USMCA market," Dominique Boulegue, general plant manager ZKW México. By 2026, ZKW México plans to produce around 4.5 million headlights per year with up to 4,000 employees."
ZKW did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Plastics News.
The company currently employs 1,658 people in Mexico. In 2025, headlights and center lamps for VW and GM will be produced in Silao, the release said.
ZKW produces headlights for car manufacturers including BMW, Ford Lincoln, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Nissan Infiniti, Volkswagen and Volvo.