Automotive components manufacturer Hella (Lippstadt / Germany; www.hella.com) has unveiled a new electronics plant in Apaseo el Grande in the Mexican state of Guanajuato after what it said was a multi-million euro investment programme. Specialising in manufacturing body control units, control units for electronic power steering and other products, the plant has a total area of 11,000 m² and will employ up to 250 staff in the first development phase.

As well as the new plant in Apaseo el Grande, production capacities in two existing lighting plants in Mexico were expanded at the end of 2017, with plant area more than quadrupled to 79,000 m². The staff was more than doubled to 3,000 employees. Hella chief executive Rolf Breidenbach said the capital expenditure was “primarily to serve existing orders placed by regional customers, as well as to further develop our position in the North American market.”

The German company employs around 7,000 workers in 15 locations in North, Central and South America. It posted revenues in the Americas of more than EUR 1 bn in 2017.