DETROIT (Jan. 15, 2015) – Governor Mike Pence joined executives from Brescia, Italy-based OMR Automotive, a tier 1 automotive supplier for the Fiat Group, in Detroit today to announce the company’s plans to locate its North American headquarters in Speedway, Indiana, creating up to 60 new jobs by 2016.
“OMR’s North American headquarters will be in great hands with Hoosiers in the driver’s seat,” said 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 Automotive will invest $10 million to construct a 43,000 square-foot facility on its 2.5-acre campus located at 4755 Gillman St. in Speedway, which includes the installation of new equipment and advanced manufacturing technologies. The company also purchased an additional 2.5 acres located at 4743 Gillman St. for future expansion. As OMR’s fifth location outside of Italy, the company expects to begin construction on its Speedway facility by April, with operations launching by the end of the year. The operation will house the company’s machining and assembling of automotive components for engines, transmissions and chassis.
“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.”
Employing more than 1,800 associates in Italy and 1,200 around the world, the company will begin hiring engineering, administration, production line and quality control professionals as well as machine operators and skilled equipment mechanics in Speedway by the end of the year.
Established in 1919 and still 100 percent owned by the Bonometti family, OMR is a tier 1 components supplier of engines, suspensions, gears, braking systems, chassis and integrated systems for the automotive industry. With 10 locations in Italy, as well as locations in India, China, Brazil and Morocco, the company is a worldwide supplier for original equipment manufacturers in the Fiat Chrysler Group including Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep, Ferrari and Maserati. The company also serves automotive customers including General Motors, Volkswagen, Ford and Toyota.
“Given the town of Speedway’s racing history and automotive roots, it is a complete privilege to welcome such a well-known and successful international industry leader to open its first and only headquarters in North America,” said David Lindsey, Speedway Town Council president.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will provide the Speedway Redevelopment Commission with up to $1,000,000 in infrastructure assistance from the state’s Industrial Development Grant Fund. The town of Speedway and Speedway Redevelopment Commission will consider additional tax abatement.
Today Pence is leading a one-day economic development and jobs mission to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where he is sharing Indiana’s story as a state that works with executives representing some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. The Indiana automotive industry produced more than 1.1 million cars and light trucks in 2013 and ranks second in the nation for automotive gross domestic product. Vehicle and automotive parts exports remain Indiana’s largest export industry, ranking it in the top five exporting states of motor vehicle parts and accessories in the United States.
