Fashion
Giti Tire, the 10th largest tire company in the world based in Singapore, is on track to open its first first North American manufacturing facility on a 1,100-acre site, 170 miles northeast of Charleston, in Richburg, South Carolina.
The company expects to invest $560 million and create 1,700 new jobs over the next decade in Chester County. The new facility, which will be located on the Carolinas I-77 Mega Site, will combine manufacturing and distribution activities, with total building area estimated to be 1.8 million square feet.
Giti Tire will produce both passenger and light truck tires for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and replacement markets in the Chester County plant.
“This significant investment represents our strong commitment to customers in North America. This is a key milestone for Giti Tire and an important part of our growth strategy worldwide. Existing business and strong demand for Giti Tire’s passenger and light truck tires in North America has made this significant investment in South Carolina possible,” Enki Tan, executive chairman of Giti Tire Group said.
During the first phase of production, the plant’s capacity is expected to be 5 million tires annually. Giti Tire plans to further increase production capacity in response to future market demand and conditions. The Chester County facility represents Giti’s ninth manufacturing plant in its global system.
“Chester County is an excellent location for Giti Tire, offering extensive and efficient infrastructure network including interstate highways, rail, close proximity to airports and a major metropolitan area to support the company’s needs and growth for many years to come,” Lei Huai Chin, Managing Director of Giti Tire Group said.
According to the State Department of Commerce the company’s decision to locate in South Carolina was driven by a number of factors, including the area’s workforce and training opportunities through the technical college system, proximity to major transportation infrastructure and deep-water port facilities in Charleston, market access to the growing Southeast region and the state’s business-friendly environment.
As an incentive ready SC will be assisting the company with the recruiting and training of its initial workforce.
