Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Auto parts supplier announces $50M expansion in Laurens County

Krys Merryman //January 18, 2023//

Auto parts supplier announces $50M expansion in Laurens County

Krys Merryman //January 18, 2023//

Listen to this article

A global automotive supplier is expanding its operations in Laurens County.

Yanfeng’s $49.6 million investment will create approximately 58 new jobs over the next five years, according to a South Carolina Department of Commerce news release.

“Yanfeng is pleased to make this additional investment and further grow our Fountain Inn operations,” said Tony Elenbaas, Yanfeng’s North America vice president and general manager, in the release. “This location is a key part of our North American business. We appreciate the support from the state of South Carolina.”

Its newest facility, which will be located at 101 International Blvd. in Fountain Inn, involves the growth of its manufacturing footprint outside of the existing site, to include building renovations and a significant investment in machinery and equipment. The expansion will also allow Yanfeng to accommodate the production of new and innovative parts for automotive manufacturers, the release said.

With more than 240 locations and 67,000 employees worldwide, Yanfeng’s core product portfolio focuses on interior, exterior, seating, cockpit electronics and passive safety. The company is anticipating and redefining how society will live and work inside the future of vehicles, according to the release. Focusing on lightweight technology and “Smart Cabin,” a technology that combines physical features and digital intelligence to enhance the interactions between occupants, Yanfeng supports automakers’ plan to explore future mobility and provide leading cabin solutions.

The expansion is expected to be complete by 2026, and the company is “re-skilling and up-skilling” current team members as part of this transition, according to the release. Individuals interested in new opportunities with the Yanfeng team should visit the company’s careers page

“Yanfeng’s expansion is reflective of our state’s position as a global automotive leader, producing world-class quality vehicles and parts,” said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III in the release.

To assist with the costs of building improvements for this project, the Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits and also awarded a $200,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Laurens County.

Laurens County Council Chairman Brown Patterson said in the release that the automotive industry continues to thrive in Laurens County and the Upstate.

“South Carolina is proud of its robust automotive industry, including a wide network of suppliers producing top-notch goods and materials,” said S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in the release. “Congratulations to Yanfeng on its continued growth, supporting one of the world’s most in-demand industries from South Carolina’s Upstate. Our state is proud to support the company’s continued success.”

-