PPG Paints announced a $300 million investment in advanced manufacturing in North America to support increased demand for paints and coatings in the automotive industry. These investments will begin in 2024 and continue the next four years.

As part of the initiative, PPG will build a new paint and coatings manufacturing plant in Loudon County, Tennessee. The 250,000-square-foot facility, PPG’s first manufacturing plant to be built in the U.S. in more than 15 years, will produce paints and coatings products and solutions for automakers and automotive parts suppliers.

“Innovation is at the forefront of PPG’s purpose in protecting and beautifying the world,” says Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer. “These investments continue to modernize and digitize our manufacturing capabilities, and demonstrate PPG’s continued focus on quality and service to our customers as the premier single-source coatings supplier for every vehicle surface. As we continue to see a resurgence of manufacturing in the U.S., PPG will leverage this new facility and our other site investments to maximize quality, improve operational efficiency and reduce product complexity within our manufacturing footprint.”

The facility will eventually supply other industrial segments, including transportation, heavy duty equipment, building and construction and consumer products. Once fully operational, the facility will employ approximately 130 full-time employees and produce more than 11 million gallons of paint and coatings annually.

PPG’s manufacturing investments will also expand activities at existing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, and San Juan Del Rio, Mexico. The investments cover new equipment and processes that will increase manufacturing efficiencies and expand PPG’s capabilities to meet growing demand for sustainable solutions, such as waterborne coatings.

“As the automotive industry continues to transform, we’re excited to expand our manufacturing capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our automotive customers,” says Alisha Bellezza, PPG senior vice president, automotive coatings. “The strategic location of PPG’s new facility in Tennessee also creates a more efficient and effective supply chain with close proximity to many automotive manufacturing facilities, which will further enhance the service experience for our customers.”