SPEEDWAY, Ind. (Jan. 20, 2015) — Italian automotive components supplier OMR Automotive has selected Speedway as the site for a $10 million, 43,000-sq.-ft. combined North American headquarters and manufacturing facility, set to open by year-end.
OMR, along with the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC), representatives from Speedway and the Speedway Redevelopment Commission (SRC), gathered together Jan. 15 to sign a purchase agreement for the new construction, which will sit on a five-acre lot on Gilman Street. The Brescia, Italy-based company said it expects the groundbreaking to take place in April.
As part of the agreement, the IEDC will provide the SRC with up to $1 million in infrastructure assistance from the state's Industrial Development Grant Fund.
OMR said it will begin hiring employees to serve in engineering, administration, production line, quality control, machine operation and equipment mechanics positions before year-end, with plans to create up to 60 new jobs by 2016.
The firm is anticipating a two-phase construction process, with additional development of the facility taking place over the next five to six years.
Founded in 1919, OMR manufacturers a variety of automotive parts and assemblies, including chassis and suspension components, engine supports, finished goods and protection, anti-snag and fastening devices. The firm is a global supplier for car makers such as Fiat Chrysler Group, General Motors and Ford Motor Co., among others.
“OMR's North American headquarters will be in great hands with Hoosiers in the driver's seat,” said Gov. Mike Pence. “Indiana's motor vehicle industry is prominent around the world. Japanese companies like Toyota, Honda and Subaru helped launch the international automotive presence in Indiana that has multiplied in recent years to now include Italian companies like OMR, proving Indiana is a state that works for the automotive industry.”
OMR — which operates 10 production sites in Italy along with others in Brazil, Morocco, India and China—said it chose the Speedway site in part because of its close proximity to other automotive manufacturers.
“Indiana stands out as the ideal place for our North American home base, situated in Speedway, a town known the world over for its legacy in auto racing,” said Marco Bonometti, chairman of OMR.
“Our team looked across the region for a place that would maximize growth opportunities for our world-class manufacturing operations, building parts in cars on roads all around the world today. We were impressed with the tax structure and affordable business climate in Indiana and look forward to a long future here.”