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Kawasaki Announces New Investment, 110 New Jobs in Maryville, Missouri

  • August 25, 2020

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., has announced plans to expand and invest in Missouri, adding an additional shift and three assembly lines at its facility in Maryville. The company plans to add one line to the first shift, while two others will begin for the second shift, creating an additional 110 jobs.

“As our capacity need grows, so does the need for additional workforce,” said Anita Coulter, Vice President of Operations. “Northwest Missouri has provided the kind of workforce necessary to produce a quality product that has our customers requesting more. However, with the state of our world today, the safety of our employees has to come first.”

Kawasaki noted that the additional assembly lines on second shift will not only allow Kawasaki to continue social distancing efforts for employees’ safety, but also can be another way to help parents navigate the uncertainty of school or classroom closures coupled with online learning and remain employed.

“This opportunity may be a viable solution that is a win-win,” said Coulter. “Personal safety in the workplace and childcare are big concerns for our employees. This option could provide a solution for both of these concerns as well as maintaining a steady income for their family.”

Kawasaki opened the Maryville plant in 1989. It had one assembly line producing a small engine for walk behind lawn mowers, and employed a team of 150 employees. The Missouri plant has expanded more than a dozen times, and currently employs more than 850 people. The Maryville plant has become the main manufacturer of general purpose engines worldwide for their parent company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

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