Inteva Products soon will begin producing a sunroof for Mercedes-Benz, according to plant manager Daryl Thomas.
The Gadsden City Council approved tax abatements Tuesday for the $7 million investment Inteva is making in the plant that will result in 80 new jobs. The plant’s payroll will increase by an estimated $1.6 million, according to information from the city. The plant employs about 200.
Thomas said the plant will first produce the sunroof for the Mercedes “C” class and later the “N” Class.
Equipment will be arriving in June, July, August and September and will be installed at the plant, which is on Airport Road. A plant expansion is not required.
Thomas said the product includes the front and back part of the vehicle and almost the entire roof.
“It’s a very large sunroof,” he said.
Inteva plants in the Czech Republic and in China also are building the roof assembly for Mercedes.
“It’s a worldwide program for this car,” Thomas said.
The parts produced here will be for the Mercedes plant in Vance and also for a plant in South Africa.
He said plant officials are happy and excited “to be able to fill the building up with work and create jobs for the area.”
The company will begin hiring a few employees in September. Thomas said most new employees will be brought on in January.
The plant does interior work for Mercedes and also builds window regulator motors for a number of automotive manufacturers including Mercedes, Volkswagen, Ford, Chrysler and Kia.
Thomas said the plant also produces parts for Volkswagen in Mexico.
Inteva purchased the former Delphi Automotive Systems location here in 2008.
By Andy Powell
Times Staff Writer