Astemo invests $112M in Kentucky

Astemo Americas said on September 1 it will spend more than $112 million to expand two manufacturing plants in Berea, Kentucky, adding 114 jobs as it increases output of electric-vehicle powertrain components. The project will add nearly 300,000 square feet of production and warehouse space at the company’s facilities on Mayde Road in Madison County, according to the company and Kentucky officials. Astemo said the investment will support higher production of hybrid electric-vehicle motors. Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said the project is the first phase of a multi-year expansion that could total $379 million and create as many as 282 jobs. (prnewswire.com) ### Where is Astemo putting the money? Berea, Kentucky, is the site of the expansion. Astemo said the spending will go to its two manufacturing plants on Mayde Road in Madison County, where the company currently makes chassis and electric powertrain components. Kentucky-based reports said the Berea operation is part of a broader in-state footprint that also includes a Harrodsburg plant producing electric-powertrain and engine-management systems. (prnewswire.com) Nearly 300,000 square feet is the physical scale of the first phase. Astemo said the added space will be used for production and warehousing tied to higher output of hybrid EV motors and related components. ### What exactly will the Kentucky plants make more of? Astemo Americas said the expansion is aimed at increasing production of electric-vehicle powertrain components, and the company’s release specified hybrid electric-vehicle motors. (prnewswire.com) Kentucky’s Cabinet for Economic Development described the project as an increase in production capacity for hybrid motors. Aftermarket News reported the investment as focused on hybrid-electric vehicle motor production. (prnewswire.com) That aligns with the company’s own description of the project as part of a broader electrification push in its manufacturing network. ### How big is the hiring piece? Astemo and Kentucky officials both put the immediate job count at 114. Those jobs are tied to the Madison County expansion now being announced, not the full multi-year program described by the state. (prnewswire.com) The larger state projection is 282 jobs. Gov. Beshear’s office said that figure reflects the broader program of which the $112 million investment is the first phase. (aftermarketnews.com) ### Why are Kentucky officials highlighting this project? Gov. Andy Beshear said on September 1 the announcement added momentum to Kentucky’s EV manufacturing sector. WEKU reported Beshear called the project one of the largest private-sector investments in Madison County in two decades. (prnewswire.com) State officials also framed the project as evidence that automotive suppliers are still adding capacity around electrified drivetrains. The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development published the expansion in its September 1 newsroom update, naming Astemo Americas and the 114-job figure. (kentucky.gov) ### How does this fit into Astemo’s broader North America footprint? Astemo Americas said in a June 2025 announcement that it was opening a new regional headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, with office, lab and testing space for engineering, software development and customer-service teams. (kentucky.gov) The company said then that it had an expanded footprint and was investing in mobility technology across the region. Astemo’s earlier corporate materials also described the Americas business as operating more than 20 manufacturing plants, research-and-development centers and sales offices across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. (ced.ky.gov) ### What happens next in Berea? September 1 is the date Astemo and Kentucky announced the first phase, and the next milestone is execution of the broader multi-year program described by the state. (prnewswire.com) Kentucky officials said that program could eventually total $379 million and 282 jobs at the Madison County operation. (kentucky.gov) (prnewswire.com)