SIA Growth Spurs Carmel Supplier Expansion

Moriden America

A supplier for Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is planning to nearly double its Carmel work force. Moriden America Inc., a subsidiary of a Japan-based manufacturer, says it will hire 32 more workers and add new molding equipment to keep up with growing demand from the Tippecanoe County assembly facility.

The company’s parent is Moriden Company Ltd. It has had a presence in the state for more than 25 years and currently employs 37 in Hamilton County. SIA is launching a new Subaru Impreza model later this year and Moriden America’s expansion will help supply cargo systems. Applications are now open for production and quality control positions at the 130,000 square-foot Carmel facility, which was renovated last year.

Last year, SIA announced a $140 million investment into its own expansion and in July celebrated the three-millionth Subaru to come off the lines after 27 years of production. In all, the country’s only Subaru manufacturing operation has pumped some $1.3 billion into the Lafayette operation in four years, adding 1,300 jobs in less than a year.

Moriden America Vice President Sumio Imori says "locating in Indiana allows us access to a broad base of customers within close proximity to our facility. We will be able to grow our business and utilize our new equipment to full capacity. Our goal is to provide a high quality, competitively-priced product delivered on time to our customer. Our success lies with our associates, and we are pleased with the work ethic of the Indiana workforce. We look forward to adding more Hoosiers to our team."

Carmel serves as the North American headquarters for the Tier 1 Subaru and Tier 2 Toyota supplier. The company has been offered nearly $300,000 in combined conditional tax credits and training grants from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Moriden America’s North American HQ was previously located in Detroit.