Constellium says it has signed a joint venture agreement with UACJ to supply body-in-white aluminium sheet to the North American automotive industry, following its January announcement of plans to supply the Continent.
The JV will have an initial target capacity of 100,000t supplied by cold rolled coils from both partners’ rolling mills.
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The facility, which will be located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will be designed to allow for expansion beyond 100,000t, with total joint investment expected to be around US$150m.
Production is scheduled to start in the first half of 2016, with full capacity reached by 2018.
“Bowling Green is the right place for this plant, particularly because its central location will allow us to serve automotive OEMs across the US with our range of products,” said Constellium Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products business unit president, Laurent Musy.
“The availability of a highly skilled local labour force and the entrepreneurial spirit of the area were the decisive factors in choosing the city of Bowling Green and the state of Kentucky, which has been very supportive during the decision process”.
The finalisation of the joint venture remains subject to regulatory approvals, which are currently expected in the second half of 2014.
