Astemo Invests $11M in Muncie Plant
The Japanese auto parts maker is expanding injection molding capacity and adding an intake manifold assembly line at its Indiana facility.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Manufacturing
Live Poll
Should your city offer tax breaks to attract manufacturing plant expansions?
Astemo plans to invest more than $11 million in its Muncie, Indiana manufacturing operations, adding injection molding capacity at the plant. The company is also adding a new assembly line for intake manifolds used in internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicle applications.
Why it matters
The expansion adds manufacturing capacity and jobs at a Muncie facility that has operated since 1999 and employs about 188 people, most of whom live in the city. The Muncie City Council approved a five-year tax abatement for the program.
Astemo's $11 million investment is measured against a Muncie workforce of about 188, with nearly 70% of employees living in the city. The company plans to add up to nine jobs within three years, though the split of the investment between molding and the new line has not been disclosed.
The players
Astemo
Astemo is an automotive parts manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo and a joint venture of Hitachi, Honda and JIC Capital, with about 80,000 employees worldwide.
The details
Astemo is adding injection molding capacity and a new intake manifold assembly line at its Muncie plant, with the investment announced in a November 4, 2026 release. The new intake manifold line is expected to enter production in March 2027.
Timeline
1999: Muncie facility is established.
November 4, 2026: Astemo announces the $11 million Muncie investment.
March 2027: New intake manifold line is expected to enter production.
Within three years: Up to nine new jobs are expected to be added.
Market Landscape
Astemo's intake manifold line for internal combustion and hybrid vehicles shows suppliers still investing in ICE and hybrid components even as automakers push toward battery-electric platforms. The Muncie expansion therefore sits in a segment that continues to draw capital while the broader industry transitions.
The expansion could add up to nine jobs in Muncie within three years, creating local employment opportunities. The tax abatement approved by the city council means the investment carries a five-year reduction in local tax obligations for the company.
The takeaway
Localized manufacturing investments like Astemo's Muncie expansion show how supplier capacity decisions can keep skilled jobs in a community even as the auto sector changes. Readers tracking local employment should watch whether the projected nine jobs materialize by the three-year mark.
Further reading
Find more coverage of Manufacturing activity and plant investments across the Muncie area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The BRAKE Report.
Live Poll
Should your city offer tax breaks to attract manufacturing plant expansions?
