Magna International Inc. continues to expand in Mexico by celebrating the grand opening of a new automotive seat manufacturing facility in Allende, Coahuila, Mexico.

"Magna has been a great partner of Coahuila, and with them we build a future of development and growth for the company, its workers, and their families, as well as to generate greater wealth and prosperity for our state," said the Governor Ruben Moreira Valdez during his participation.

The new Magna Seating Allende facility, a 108,000-square-foot building, will employ approximately 1,000 people when it reaches full production in 2017. Magna will invest US$8 million over the next three years in the facility, which will cut and sew the soft trim material used in seats for a variety of auto makers.

"Our North American seating business continues to expand and we are responding by adding world-class manufacturing facilities - this new seating trim plant is a great example," said Simon Kew, Vice President Operations, Magna Seating.  "We are pleased to be growing our business in Mexico, and fortunate to work together again with the Coahuila government in the development of this new facility and bring jobs to the local community."

Magna established its first Mexico facility in Puebla in 1991. With the establishment of this new facility in Allende, Magna will have 28 manufacturing facilities, one engineering & product development centre, and more than 24,000 employees in Mexico.