TOKYO -- A pair of Japanese metal producers are separately ramping up overseas production of aluminum car parts to take advantage of growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Kobe Steel will spend roughly 10 billion yen ($93 million) to build plants in the U.S. and China. The facilities will produce extruded aluminum for use in bumpers and other frame parts. The American plant will be part of the company's first-ever offshore integrated production complex, due for completion in 2017. Located in Kentucky, the facility combines continuous casting with extrusion processes.
