Germany-based ZF Group reported it will spend $175 million on expansion and will create 450 additional jobs at its transmission plant in Laurens County, boosting the plant's work force to 1,650 by 2016.
The company made the announcement Friday at its 950,000-square-foot Gray Court plant, which it plans to expand by 450,000 square feet. The third expansion in four years will bring the total investment to $600 million in a plant covering 1.4 million square feet.
Strong sales of the company’s eight- and nine-speed transmissions are attributed to federal fuel-economy requirements. Automakers are trying to meet federal requirements that cars and light trucks sold in the United States post an average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
The automotive supplier, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany has announced Chrysler and Land Rover as customers for the plant.