SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, a joint venture between the BMW Group and SGL Group, has broken ground on the site expansion project in Moses Lake, Washington in the US.
The expansion will be funded by an investment of $200m, which includes the previously invested $100m. The project is expected to triple the company's production capacity at the Moses Lake plant.
The expanded facility will undertake production of the carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for application in future vehicle concepts.
BMW Purchasing and Supplier Network board member Klaus Draeger said CFRP is a key material for the automotive industry of the 21st century.
"Thanks to the pooling of the SGL Group's expertise and our knowledge in large-series production of CFRP components, we will be able to produce the ultra-lightweight high-tech material also for other model series, at competitive costs and in large quantities," Draeger added.
Scheduled to be completed by early 2015, the site expansion is said to make the plant in Moses Lake the world's largest carbon fiber plant and also create 120 new jobs.
Currently, the carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake produces parts for the BMW i models.
