HOPKINSVILLE, Ky., May 24 - Meritor Automotive, Inc. announced that Meritor Suspension Systems Company (MSSC) today broke ground on the expansion to its plant in Hopkinsville, Ky.  MSSC is a joint venture between Meritor and Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing of Japan. The expansion will enable MSSC to meet the expected increased demand for suspension components within the next five years.

With an initial capital investment of $13 million and occupying a space of 25,000 square feet, the new production center will produce hot coil springs for its light vehicle OEM customers in North America.  The expansion also is expected to create over 40 jobs in the Hopkinsville area within two years.

Robert Patrician, president of Meritor Suspension Systems Company, said, "We have recently been selected as a supplier for several new vehicle platforms, and our customers have requested that we locate coil spring manufacturing capacity in the United States.  Our hot coil spring expansion not only will help boost the economy of the Hopkinsville community with new jobs, but it will help drive the growth for MSSC."  

The Hopkinsville plant currently produces stabilizer bars and torsion bars, suspension systems parts that are critical to the safe operation of passenger cars and light trucks.  The expansion supports Meritor LVS' two-pronged strategic direction to become a Tier 1 global supplier in undercarriage components and systems, such as wheels, suspension systems, and corner modules; and in aperture systems, which includes door, access control and roof systems. 

(May 24, 2000)