A groundbreaking ceremony was hosted in October 2023 to celebrate the Toyota Boshoku Western Kentucky Facility coming to Hopkinsville, and on Tuesday, that facility had its grand opening.
Toyota Boshoku is a Japanese-based corporation that focuses on manufacturing interior automotive components, and Toyota Boshoku America is headquartered in Erlanger.
The new smart facility is located in Hopkinsville’s South Industrial Park off Fort Campbell Boulevard and it began operations in November. The local facility produces car seat components, such as parts that allow the seat to recline and move forward and backward. The facility’s operations are also supported by autonomous mobile robots that transport needed materials.
Before the ribbon was cut, local and state leaders made some remarks about the occasion. Governor Andy Beshear attended the groundbreaking, and he was back in town for the grand opening. Beshear says the facility represents a $225 million investment in Kentucky and has created 157 new jobs for those who call the region home. He says the facility’s grand opening is an example of the state’s ongoing economic success.
Beshear then presented a gift to Toyota Boshoku Western Kentucky President Yoshiyuki Ando.
Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight says Toyota Boshoku officials choosing to locate the facility in Hopkinsville shows that they believe in the capabilities of the local workforce. By providing well-paying jobs and supporting economic development, Knight says the facility supports citizens wanting to build their lives in Hopkinsville.
Toyota Boshoku President, Masayoshi Shirayanagi, thanked those who helped them turn the facility into a reality. He says he believes the facility will lead the company’s growth in automation, and to date, the facility has hired and trained 112 employees.
Ando concluded the remarks and shared that starting a new facility is never easy, and he thanked members of the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, who provided them with a temporary office space while the facility was under early construction. Now that the facility is operational, Ando says they will prioritize safety and look forward to playing a key role in the Toyota Boshoku network.
The grand opening ceremony concluded with a tree planting ceremony and the ribbon cutting.
