A French automotive technology company is planning to lease a 213,000-square-foot facility in Riverside, Missouri, in a move expected to bring more than 100 new jobs to the area. OPmobility says the project is projected to generate $27.5 million in new payroll, though the company has not said when the facility will actually open.
Details Still Thin on Timeline and Scope
According to KCTV5, the announcement did not specify the period covered by the projected $27.5 million payroll figure, nor did it say when the Riverside facility will open. The station reports that OPmobility described the new operation as a way to help it serve customers in the Midwest and across the United States. OPmobility plans to lease the space in Riverside, a move the company says will expand its North American manufacturing footprint, per the original announcement distributed by PR Newswire.
Christophe Marceau, executive vice-president and president of OPmobility's Exterior & Lighting business group, said the Riverside investment marks an important step in the company's North American growth and will improve customer proximity and responsiveness while creating jobs, according to the PR Newswire release. OPmobility, founded in 1946 and based in France, develops and manufactures vehicle exterior and lighting systems, complex modules, energy storage, and battery and hydrogen electrification solutions. The company reported economic revenue of 11.5 billion euros in 2025 and operates a global network of 152 plants and 40 R&D centers employing 38,100 people across four business groups. Separately, it offers software-development activity through its Op'nSoft unit.
Local and State Officials Weigh In
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said OPmobility's investment reflects confidence in the state's workforce, business climate, and automotive manufacturing sector. Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose said the city will partner responsively with OPmobility, adding that the company's location choice confirms the region's economic development approach. Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort — an industrial-focused initiative of the Kansas City Area Development Council — said Kansas City is a top 15 U.S. industrial market that produces more than 760,000 vehicles annually and offers a deep supplier network and skilled workforce.
The Kansas City region's automotive sector is substantial on its own: the regional automotive industry is valued at $5.3 billion and supports more than 20,000 jobs. The region is home to Ford and General Motors manufacturing operations, along with Goodyear and more than 100 automotive suppliers, per the KCTV5 report. The area's central location allows 90 percent of the contiguous U.S. to be reached in two days or less by truck.
A Mixed Recent History for Riverside's Auto Sector
Riverside has seen both expansion and contraction in the automotive supply chain in recent years. Grupo Antolin previously announced plans to create 118 jobs and invest more than $15.7 million in a 150,000-square-foot Kansas City automotive manufacturing facility, according to Missouri Partnership. U.S. Farathane announced a $51.6 million expansion expected to create 267 jobs over three years at a planned 220,000-square-foot Riverside facility, the organization also reported.
But the picture has not been uniformly positive. Yangfeng planned to close its Riverside facility in November 2024, a move that was expected to affect 444 employees, including 398 union workers, according to KSHB. That same report noted OPmobility itself had announced layoffs of 72 employees at its Kindleberger Road facility in the area, underscoring how volatile the regional supplier landscape can be even as new projects are announced.
Missouri Partnership, a public-private economic development organization that has led and supported projects since 2008, says its efforts have generated thousands of jobs and billions in new capital investment statewide. The Kansas City Area Development Council, which works with two states and more than 50 county and community partners, says the broader OneKC region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. For now, Riverside residents and workers will be watching for further details on when OPmobility's new facility will actually open its doors.
