Siemens Mobility is investing $220 million in a manufacturing facility slated for Davidson County. The new advanced manufacturing plant in Lexington will produce what state transportation officials call next-generation passenger trains with a focus on sustainability.
It will also create more than 500 jobs with average salaries of about $50,000, making it one of the city’s biggest employers. The North Carolina Department of Transportation made a $9.4 million investment to meet the area’s roadway, rail and airport infrastructure needs.
This announcement coincides with a growing demand for passenger train travel in North Carolina. Last year, the state’s rail service broke the annual record for ridership, and according to the DOT, it’s on track to do so again in 2023.
According to a press release from Governor Roy Cooper, the move may grow the state’s economy by $1.6 billion over a 12-year period. The state has offered incentives of more than $5 million provided that the company meets job creation and investment targets. The passenger coach manufacturing factory will be situated on a 200-acre site with production scheduled to begin next year.