Siemens Mobility breaks ground on North Carolina rail vehicle manufacturing facility

Aug. 24, 2023

The facility will be the company’s second manufacturing hub in North America and will commence operations in 2024.

Left to right: Melanie Wallace, Siemens Mobility People & Organization Site Leader, Michael Tyler, President of Customer Services, Siemens Mobility North America, U.S. Senator Ted Budd, State Senator Steve Jarvis, Michael Cahill, President of Rolling Stock, Siemens Mobility North America, Mayor of Lexington, Jason Hayes, Stephanie Blair, Representative of the Office of Senator Tillis, Former City Manager Terra Greene at the Aug. 23 groundbreaking of Siemens Mobility's Lexington, N.C., facility.

Siemens Mobility broke ground on its Lexington, N.C., passenger rolling stock facility on Aug. 23. The facility will manufacture passenger coaches and provide overhauls for locomotives and passenger coaches.

“A huge milestone in the opening of this new facility, our team is excited about our future in Lexington and the great state of North Carolina,” said Marc Buncher, CEO of Siemens Mobility North America. “This is not just an investment in rail, but an investment in manufacturing, jobs, sustainability, digitalization and the future of modern transportation.”

A rendering of Siemens Mobility's Lexington, N.C., facility, which is expected to begin operations in 2024.

The facility will sit on 200 acres, which the company says will allow for future expansion. Siemens says the facility will create more than 500 jobs in Davidson County, which has a population of nearly 20,000. The facility will begin operations in 2024 and Siemens says it will incorporate some of the latest technologies found in its Sacramento facility, including robotic welding, 3D printing and Virtual Reality welder training.

"Siemens' breaking ground today is the direct result of the city of Lexington staff working diligently with the Siemens' team, governmental agencies and many other stakeholders to ensure all steps in this process go smoothly, and we are thankful for all involved," said Lexington Mayor Jason Hayes. "The investment and jobs this project brings to the area will improve the quality of life for so many in our community. We are very excited to continue our partnership with Siemens to bring this project through to opening day!”

Siemens unveiled plans to build an East Coast manufacturing hub in the United States in March 2023. The Lexington, N.C., facility will be Siemens’ ninth manufacturing facility and will position Siemens’ products closer to its customers. The $220-million carbon neutral facility will be supported with a Job Development Investment Grant from the state of North Carolina. Siemens reports the facility is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $1.6 billion over the course of the 12-year term of the grant.

“Our new east coast hometown will soon be a powerhouse when it comes to rail manufacturing,” said Michael Cahill, president rolling stock, Siemens Mobility North America. “Complementing our operations in Sacramento, our bi-coastal facilities will work together to manufacture the latest rail technology and transform the everyday for communities across the country.”

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.