A tri-venture of big brand names in commercial trucking plans to build a $1.9 billion battery facility, bringing 2,000 jobs to Marshall County. State of Mississippi legislators approved a $365 million incentive package to finalize the deal on January 18. The operation would produce batteries for medium and heavy duty commercial electric trucks and industrial applications. It is set to be located in the 3,600-acre Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park near U.S. Hwy. 72, Miss. Hwy 302 and I-269. Jobs are expected to have an average wage of $66,000.
The three publicly traded companies of the tri-venture are Cummins, Daimler Truck and Paccar. Work is set to begin this spring or summer, with a targeted launch date of 2027. The Marshall County facility is set to produce batteries for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The battery facility will use 21 gigawatt hours. Power would be provided by the Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, which falls under TVA jurisdiction. The Northeast Mississippi project has a 500-acre footprint at the Chickasaw Trail park, with an option to purchase an additional 200 acres at a preestablished price.
“This site selection represents an exciting and tangible step toward advancing our Destination Zero strategy ad our vision to lead the industry toward a decarbonized future,” Cummins chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey said. “We are excited to join the Marshall Count community to drive economic growth and job creation in Mississippi, while continuing to expand our strong partnerships and serve the diverse needs of our customers.” The tri-venture ranks as the second largest in Mississippi history, but No. 1 in terms of payroll commitment.
Stephen MacLeod – Memphis Business Journal January 26-February 1, 2024