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Another Automotive Manufacturer Moves Underground Into Missouri’s SubTropolis

  • August 31, 2017


Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment announced it has leased 90,000 sq. ft. in the Hunt Midwest SubTropolis for a new Ford Transit and Ford F-150 upfitting operation. The firm also will lease an additional 2 acres for vehicle staging.

“Dejana is the 14th auto company to choose Automotive Alley for upfitting, distribution or coordination operations in the past six years,” Mike Bell, Hunt Midwest vice president of commercial development, said in a release. “This cluster effect of automotive companies located within SubTropolis and the Hunt Midwest Business Center allows companies like Dejana to be more productive and cost competitive, which is the essence of Automotive Alley.”

Dejana manufactures van partitions, racking systems and hauling systems for after-market installation on commercial vans and trucks. The company chose SubTropolis because of its location just south of Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, and the availability of space for staging vehicles before delivery.

“Being able to quickly move vehicles from Ford’s plant to our upfitting operation, combined with the ability to stage those vehicles nearby, is an unbeatable value proposition in our business,” said Andrew Dejana, president of Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment. “SubTropolis was the logical choice for Dejana as we work to expand our reach and improve our ability to serve customers in the energy, utility and telecommunications industries. We look forward to continuing the great partnership we have with Ford, and a presence in the Kansas City market will strengthen our position with the fleet and ship-through business.”

Hunt Midwest’s Automotive Alley includes space in the SubTropolis, the world’s largest underground business complex, and the 700-acre Hunt Midwest Business Center above it.

Other companies within SubTropolis include Adrian Steel, Knapheide Manufacturing Co., Ground Effects, Midway Ford, Auto Truck Group, AER Manufacturing, Caseco, Grupo Antolin, Leggett & Platt CVP, XPO Logistics and Clore Automotive to name a few.

For more on automotive manufacturing in Missouri check out our industry page, or contact Steve Johnson, CEO of Missouri Partnership, at 314.725.2688 or via our contact form, for more information on Missouri.

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