Yazaki North America Celebrates Opening of Pilot Project Factory in Guatemala

President Alejandro Giammattei, of the Republic of Guatemala, Presides

Guatemala City, February 15, 2023 – Automotive components producer Yazaki North America, Inc. (Yazaki NA) today celebrated the opening of its new pilot project factory in western Guatemala along the Mexican border in Ayutla, a municipality in the San Marcos Department of Guatemala. The celebration marks a milestone in Yazaki’s anticipated investment of up to US$10 million in the pilot project factory and to create up to 1,000 jobs. Production at the factory began last month.

Ryosuke Yazaki, President & CEO of Yazaki NA, a subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation in Japan, said, “Today we celebrate the fulfillment of Yazaki’s commitment to Guatemala, becoming the country's first automotive parts manufacturer. As we have done in El Salvador and elsewhere in Central America, we will grow together with the community while contributing to it through our business.”

Riku Yazaki, President and Representative Director, Yazaki Corporation, whose presence from Japan underscored the importance of this new investment, spoke of the importance of establishing a presence in Guatemala.

“As a global company operating in more than 45 countries and regions worldwide, we could have chosen any location to build this new factory, said Mr. Yazaki. “But the government of Guatemala and its leadership convinced us that this is the right place to invest in our future. This plant also will strengthen our ability to deliver products to our customers and their auto assembly plants in North America, reducing the risk of supply line disruption,” he said.

This pilot project factory is the first of several facilities Yazaki intends to build as part of its offshoring-to-nearshoring process that will bring overseas jobs to Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) countries. Yazaki supplies most automakers, including many in the emerging electric mobility sector. The company is also expanding its telematics and energy systems business portfolio.

Yazaki’s announcement comes in the wake of the Call to Action Vice President Harris, issued in May 2021 for businesses and social enterprises to deepen their investment in northern Central America. Yazaki NA recognizes the support of both the United States Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Guatemalan Government, through its Ministry of Economy, in making this investment project a reality.

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