FRANKFORT, Ky —  Eberspaecher North America Inc., a system developer and supplier of exhaust technology, thermal management systems and automotive electronics, is expected to bring 214 new jobs and invest more than $30 million into an existing facility in Louisville.

What You Need To Know

  • Eberspaecher plans to create 214 jobs at a facility at 7001 Greenbelt Highway in the Louisville Riverport

  • The company plans to occupy over 125,000 square feet of the 314,500-square-foot facility

  • The new plant increases the company’s footprint in the U.S. to seven sites.

  • Work on the project is scheduled to begin in May and be completed by August

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Eberspaecher's plans to occupy over 125,000 square feet of a 314,500-square-foot facility at 7001 Greenbelt Highway in the Louisville Riverport on Monday.

“Our state’s automotive sector is one of our greatest strengths,” Beshear said. “The addition of a proven company like Eberspaecher North America helps solidify the industry even further and positions the commonwealth for significant growth in the years ahead. We are building a better Kentucky and we’re doing it with companies like this one. I want to thank Eberspaecher’s leadership for selecting Jefferson County and Kentucky for this project, and I look forward to following the company’s success well into the future.”

The new plant increases the company’s footprint in the U.S. to seven sites. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in May and be completed by August, officials said in a press release.

Beshear's announcement comes days after the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.

According to the press release, the performance-based agreement can provide up to $4 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $34.4 million and annual targets of:

  • Creation and maintenance of 214 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and
  • Paying an average hourly wage of $25 including benefits across those jobs.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments, officials said.

In addition, Eberspaecher can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives, according to the press release.

The facility will be used to serve Eberspaecher's recently expanded customer base in the U.S, according to a press release.

The new facility also will allow the company to increase its focus on environmental protection, safety and comfort across its products, which includes exhaust emission conversion technologies and acoustic systems for passenger vehicles, officials said.

Its innovative products improve air quality and sustainably reduce traffic noise, officials said. 

“We are very proud to continue our growth path with a new facility in Louisville,” said Dr. Thomas Waldhier, COO of exhaust technology at the Eberspächer Group. “We are excited to kick off a great partnership with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the City of Louisville, and we are looking forward to expanding our workforce and serving our customers with high-quality products.”

Eberspaecher North America, founded in 1973 and headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a subsidiary of Germany-based Eberspächer Group, a global automotive supplier that specializes in exhaust technology, climate control systems and automotive controls.

Eberspächer has been in operation since 1865. The company currently has 80 locations in 29 countries and employs approximately 10,000 people around the world. 

More than 525 automotive suppliers and four automotive assembly plants currently operate in Kentucky, employing over 100,000 people throughout the state, according to a press release.

In 2020, auto-related companies announced 31 new location and expansion projects expected to create 970 full-time jobs with $256.8 million in announced investment.

Eberspaecher joins 78 German-owned manufacturing, service and technology operations currently located in the commonwealth. Companies with German ownership employ nearly 14,000 people in Kentucky, officials said.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the project reflects the region’s automotive strength.

“Welcome to Eberspaecher. I’d like to congratulate them for their first facility in the region, which means 200 new jobs here in Riverport,” Fischer said. “With Louisville’s robust manufacturing sector, particularly in automotive production, Eberspaecher’s new location demonstrates Louisville’s strength in this industry. We look forward to working with them in this post-pandemic economy.”

For more information on Eberspaecher, visit Eberspaecher.com.

Related Stories