News

Auto supplier SL Tennessee expands Clinton plant

Feb. 8, 2010 – SL Tennessee, LLC, has announced a $35 million expansion of its Clinton, Tenn., operations. The expansion will add 100,000 square feet to its existing facility and create 300 jobs.

SL Tennessee is an automotive parts supplier for General Motors, Hyundai, KMG and Volkswagen. The company recently was awarded a contract to supply automatic shifter assemblies for Volkswagen’s new mid-size sedan, slated to begin production in 2011 in Chattanooga.

The current facility, operating in a 164,000-square-foot space in the Interstate 75 Industrial Park, builds automotive parts, including gear shifters, parking brakes and lighting products. In 2001, SL Tennessee, a subsidiary of SL America, became the first Korean-owned automobile parts manufacturer in the Volunteer State when the Clinton facility opened.

SL America President Y.K. Woo said the company conducted an extensive feasibility study in two states before choosing an expansion location. One of the main factors in the decision, he said, was strong support from the state, local economic development partners, and TVA. "We are pleased that through the hard work and dedication of numerous organizations, we are able to bring this development to East Tennessee,” he said.

"SL Tennessee’s expansion is great news and another example of strong economic development partners at work with companies to gain and keep quality jobs in our communities,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of economic development.

Economic development partners on the project included Clinton Utilities Board, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of Clinton, Anderson County, the Anderson County Economic Development Association, and TVA.