Cincinnati USA
Automotive Excellence
From the design studio to the production line, Cincinnati
USA has become a driving force at all levels of automotive
manufacturing. The three-state region surrounding
Cincinnati is a leader in light vehicle production, with
Ohio ranked second nationally (1.9 million vehicles annu-
ally), while Kentucky ranked fourth and Indiana
fifth, in 2004.
Extensive Auto Investment
80 percent of North American light vehicle production
takes place in Ohio or within 500 miles of its borders.
Ohio has tripled its share of U.S. car production in the
last decade, growing from 7.3 percent of US output
in 1993 to almost 21 percent in 2003, accounting for
one-fifth of the country’s output.
Ohio was also second in the nation with value-added
to motor vehicles and parts during the most recently
measured period, reflecting the continued investments
in the state’s motor vehicle industry: $3.64 billion by
115 companies from 2001 to 2003.
In addition to being a major force in vehicle production,
Ohio is also a leader in the number of tier-1 auto parts
suppliers. The state ranks second in the nation with
221 suppliers. Combined with 102 tier-1 suppliers in
Indiana and 51 in Kentucky, the tristate area surrounding
Cincinnati USA accounts for more than 25 percent of the
tier-1 suppliers in the United States.
Cincinnati USA is integral to the supply chain of many
auto related firms, with more than 108 out of 614 of
Ohio’s motor vehicle industry companies located in the
Cincinnati-Dayton corridor.
An Experienced Workforce
A stable, productive workforce of 1.5 million within
50 miles.
95,000 skilled workers are employed in Cincinnati
USA’s motor vehicle, metalworking and industrial machin-
ery, and chemical and plastics industry clusters.
Fueling the Industry’s Drive to
Succeed
Local Expertise
TechSolve Inc. a manufacturing consulting firm that
has worked with General Motors, Ford and Honda of
America has become one of the driving forces behind
the Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI), working
toward developing an “intelligent” machine tool that
can know its own capabilities and design appropriate
steps toward solving process problems in real time.
The University of Cincinnati’s Leather Research
Laboratory serves the auto industry with research
and testing services designed to reduce cracking, fad-
ing and stress wear of leather.
Cincinnati USA is home to Gardner Publications’
Automotive Design and Production, the only magazine
covering the interrelationships between automotive
product development and manufacturing processes.
The ChemQuest Group Inc., an international strate-
gic business management consulting firm headquar-
tered in Cincinnati, is considered “best
in its class” by a number of its strategic partners.
They have significant expertise in the automotive
industry, as well as the paints, coatings, resins, poly-
mers, adhesives and sealants industries.
Centrally located for easy accessibility and commit-
ted to exceptional workforce development, Cincinnati
USA provides an unsurpassed location
for doing business with the automotive industry
in North America.
Engineering, research and workforce development is pro-
vided by the region’s 25 universities and colleges, commu-
nity colleges and vocational schools.
The University of Cincinnati is a leading resource for
the automotive industry, with the College of Design, Art,
Architecture and Planning (DAAP), which was named
No. 1 public design school in the world by International
Design Magazine, October 2002. DAAP is the only college
in the nation where industrial design students can create
“to size” auto parts in a Rapid Prototyping Center.
UC students co-op at General Motors, Honda of
America, EDS, Delphi, and firms abroad, such as Audi,
Volkswagon and BMW.
An Engineering Mechanics curriculum prepares students
to design better automobiles.
A research initiative on fuel cells and advanced fuel
cell membranes is being conducted by the UC Chemical
and Mechanical Engineering Department. The research
is a critical part of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project, a
10-year, $1.1 billion initiative designed to promote
high-tech innovation.
Miami University’s School of Business offers a degree
program in Supply Chain Management.
Other local colleges and universities serving the auto-
motive industry include:
Cincinnati State Community and Technical College
Gateway Community and Technical College
Northern Kentucky University
Sinclair Community College
University of Dayton
Wright State University
Education: Future of Industry
A&M Soff-Seal Inc.: rubber seal components
Advics North America: auto brake systems
Amtex Inc.: auto textiles and carpet
Arvin Meritor: national parts distribution center
Auto Temp Inc.: auto glass
Balluff Inc.: ductive sensors, switches, rotary transducers
Batavia Transmissions, LLC: CVT transmissions
Clarion Manufacturing Corp. of America: car radios, amplifiers
Ford Motor Company: transmissions
Faurecia: seat mechanisms, exhaust systems
Johnson Controls: battery covers, containers
Metcut Research: engineering and testing services
Midwest Mold & Texture: plastic molds for auto parts
Mitsubishi Electric Automotive: auto electronic components
MTS Systems Corp.: noise and vibration research
Mubea: auto springs
O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt: armored vehicles
Pacific Manufacturing of Ohio: metal stamping, tire valves
Pioneer Industrial Components Inc.: car radios, amplifiers
Premier Manufacturing Support Services: paint booth equipment,
maintenance services
Sumitomo Electric Wiring: electric wiring harnesses
Sun Manufacturing & Coatings, LLC: custom coatings
Sunnex: adhesives
Takumi Stamping: metal stampings
Three Bond International: adhesives
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein: shock absorbers
Toyota Motor Manufacturing of North America: headquarters
Usui International: fan drives
Valeo Climate Control: climate control systems
Waltex: automated welding equipment
ZF Lemforder: control arm bushings, strut mounts
ZF Sachs: auto struts
ZF Steering Systems NACAM Corp.: universal joints; steering columns
Cincinnati USA Automotive Leaders
CincinnatiUSA.org
Cincinnati USA is a key part of the supply chain for
many companies in the automotive industry. More
than 200 companies and organizations are located
here, including those highlighted below.
Alabama
1 Lincoln: Honda
(Odyssey, Pilot)
2 Anniston: North
American Bus Industry
(Buses)
3 Talladega: Crimson Fire,
Inc. (Rescue Vehicles)
4 Vance: DaimlerChrysler
(Mercedes M Class)
5 Montgomery: Hyundai
(Sonata, Santa Fe)
Georgia
6 Doraville: General
Motors (Chevrolet Venture,
Pontiac Montana)
7 Atlanta: Ford (Taurus,
Mercury Sable)
8 Fairfax: General Motors
(Chevrolet Malibu)
Illinois
9 Belvidere:
DaimlerChrysler (Dodge
Neon)
10 Chicago: Ford (Taurus,
Mercury Sable)
11 Normal: Mitsubishi
(Eclipse, Galant, Endeavor;
Chrysler Sebring; Dodge
Stratus)
Indiana
12 Mishawaka: AM General
(Hummer, Humvee)
13 Fort Wayne: General
Motors (Chevrolet
Silverado, GMC Sierra)
14 Lafayette: Subaru of
Indiana (Subaru Legacy,
Baja, Tribeca, Outback;
Isuzu Rodeo, Axiom)
15 Princeton: Toyota
(Tundra, Sequoia, Sienna)
Kentucky
16 Louisville: Ford (Explorer,
Explorer Sport Trac,
Mercury Mountaineer)
17 Louisville: Ford (Excursion,
F-Super Duty Trucks)
18 Georgetown: Toyota
(Camry, Solara, Avalon)
19 Bowling Green: General
Motors (Chevrolet Corvette,
Cadillac XLR)
Maryland
20 Baltimore: General
Motors (Chevrolet Astro,
GMC Safari)
Michigan
21 Connor: DaimlerChrysler
(Dodge Viper)
22 Lansing: General Motors
(Pontiac Grand Am)
23 Lansing: General Motors
(Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac
Grand Am)
24 Lansing: General Motors
(Chevrolet SSR)
25 Lansing: General Motors
(Cadillac CTS, SR-X)
26 Flint: General Motors
(Chevrolet Silverado HD,
Kodiak; GMC Sierra HD, Top
Kick; Isuzu Trucks)
27 Flat Rock: Ford (Mazda 6)
28 Hamtramck: General
Motors (Cadillac Seville,
Deville; Buick LeSabre;
Pontiac Bonneville)
29 Lake Orion: General
Motors (Buick Park Avenue,
LeSabre)
30 Detroit: Ford
(Commercial and Motor
Home Chassis)
31 Pontiac: General Motors
(Chevrolet Silverado, GMC
Sierra)
32 Dearborn: Ford (Mustang)
33 Wayne: Ford (Focus)
34 Wayne: Ford (Expedition,
Lincoln Navigator)
35 Wixom: Ford (Thunderbird,
Lincoln Town Car, LS)
36 Detroit: DaimlerChrysler
(Jeep Grand Cherokee)
37 Sterling Heights:
DaimlerChrysler (Chrysler
Sebring, Dodge Stratus)
38 Warren: DaimlerChrysler
(Dodge Dakota, Ram)
Mississippi
39 Canton: Nissan (Titan,
Altima, Infiniti, Quest,
Pathfinder Armada)
Missouri
40 Kansas City: Ford
(Escape, Mazda Tribute)
41 Kansas City: Ford
(F-Series Trucks)
42 Wentzville: General
Motors (Chevrolet Express,
GMC Savana)
43 St. Louis: Ford (Explorer,
Lincoln Aviator, Mercury
Mountaineer)
44 St. Louis:
DaimlerChrysler (Dodge
Caravan, Grand Caravan,
Ram, Town & Country)
North Carolina
45 Cleveland:
DaimlerChrysler (Freightliner
Trucks)
Ohio
46 Toledo: DaimlerChrysler
(Jeep Wrangler TJ)
47 Toledo: DaimlerChrysler
(Jeep Liberty)
48 Avon Lake: Ford (Escape)
49 Lorain: Ford (Econoline,
Club Wagon)
50 Lordstown: General
Motors (Chevrolet Cavalier,
Pontiac Sunfire)
51 Alliance: MAC Trailer
(Platform Trailers)
52 Marysville: Honda
(Accord)
53 East Liberty: Honda
(Civic, Element)
54 Moraine: General Motors
(Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC
Envoy, Buick Rainier)
55 Springfield: Navistar
(Medium and Heavy Trucks)
56 Chillicothe: Paccar
(Kenworth Trucks)
Pennsylvania
57 Macungie: Volvo Global
Trucks (Mack Heavy Duty
Trucks)
South Carolina
58 Gaffney: Freightliner
Custom Chassis Corp
(Freightliner, Sprinter)
59 Spartanburg: BMW
(Z4, X5)
Tennessee
60 Madison: Paccar
(Peterbilt Trucks)
61 Spring Hill: General
Motors (Saturn Ion, Saturn
Vue)
62 Smyrna: Nissan (Altima,
Frontier, Xterra, Maxima)
Virginia
63 Front Royal: Bering Trucks
(Class 7 and 8 Trucks)
64 Dublin: Volvo (Mack Trucks)
65 Norfolk: Ford (F-Series
Trucks)
Assembly Plants Surrounding Cincinnati USA
Wisconsin
66 Oshkosh: Oshkosh
(Special Purpose Trucks)
67 Janesville: General
Motors (Chevrolet Suburban,
Tahoe; GMC Yukon/XL)
68 Janesville: General
Motors (Chevrolet Tiltmaster;
GMC Forward, Isuzu NPR)
Ontario (Canada)
69 Ingersoll: CAMI (Chevrolet
Tracker, Equinox; Suzuki Vitara)
70 Brampton:
DaimlerChrysler (Chrysler
300M, Concorde; Dodge
Intrepid)
71 St. Thomas:
DaimlerChrysler (Sterling
Trucks)
72 Windsor: DaimlerChrysler
(Dodge Caravan, Grand
Caravan; Chrysler Town &
Country, Pacifica)
73 Oakville: Ford (Freestar,
Mercury Monterey)
74 Ontario Truck: Ford
(F-Series Trucks)
75 St. Thomas: Ford (Ford
Crown Victoria; Mercury
Grand Marquis, Marauder)
76 Oshawa: General
Motors (Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, Impala)
77 Oshawa: General
Motors (Buick Century,
Regal; Pontiac Grand Prix)
78 Oshawa Truck: General
Motors (Chevrolet
Silverado, GMC Sierra)
79 Alliston: Honda (Acura EL;
Honda Civic)
80 Alliston: Honda (Odyssey,
Pilot; Acura MDX)
81 Cambridge: Toyota (Matrix,
Corolla; Lexus RX 330)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
was voted the No. 1 U.S. Airport, 2004.
Location and Accessibility
For additional information about locating your business in Cincinnati USA, visit:
CincinnatiUSA.org. For specific questions, email us at partners@cincinnatichamber.com.
The Cincinnati USA Partnership is a regional economic development organization repre-
senting Southwest Ohio, Southeast Indiana, and Northern Kentucky. The Partnership has
helped hundreds of companies locate their businesses in Cincinnati USA.
©2005 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
08.05/API/1200/SS
Cincinnati USA is a premiere location for automotive
companies to do business in the United States. The
region is centrally located, home to one of the world’s
top international airports and dedicated to educating
people for automotive careers.
Cincinnati USA is within 600 miles
(966 kilometers) of:
43 percent of the nation’s population
44 percent of the nation’s manufacturing establishments
One of the World’s Top Airports
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
was voted the No. 1 U.S. Airport, 2004.
More than 635 daily departures.
130 non-stop destinations.
International nonstop air service to Frankfurt, London,
Paris, Montreal, Toronto, Amsterdam and Rome.
Serves more than 22 million passengers a year.
Courier hubs for DHL, FedEx, Airborne Express and UPS
are located within 100 miles.
300 Carew Tower
441 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.579.3100