Chinese Auto Parts Supplier Picks Lewisburg For First Plant — With Hopes To Expand

A Chinese auto supplier is opening its first American plant in Lewisburg.

Minth Group, which builds plastic components and body parts for the major automakers, says it’ll start by employing 200 people, and the first customer of its $13.2 million, Marshall County facility will be Daimler’s Mercedes plant in Alabama. But the company could eventually ship to car manufacturers across the Southeast, says chief operating officer Jimmy Chen.

“Because if you look here, General Motors, VW in Chattanooga, BMW and Daimler — and Nissan — all of these are our top five customers,” he says.

Minth considered northern Alabama but will instead locate in the former Ditech plant just outside Lewisburg. That building has been vacant since late last year.