Kansas City, Mo. – March 1, 2022 – Global engineering and design company RLE International announced today it will establish a new modification and engineering center in Kansas City, investing $7.5 million and creating 85 high-paying jobs. RLE’s state-of-the-art facility will provide complex engineering, design and build solutions for automotive and mobility clients.
“Missouri is a global leader in innovation and advanced manufacturing, which support our robust automotive industry and many others,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Our state is proud to welcome RLE, as a valuable addition to an already vibrant automotive sector in Kansas City. These 85 new high-paying jobs will strengthen the region’s economy as well as provide life changing opportunities for Missouri families.”
RLE International is involved in the development of new vehicles with a wide range of customers. The company helps manufacturers and startups develop, refine and test electric vehicles from initial vision to production.
RLE’s new facility, a low-volume production modification center, will be located within the Hunt Midwest SubTropolis. With more than 7.3 million sq. ft. of leasable industrial space in Kansas City, SubTropolis is perfect for e-commerce, supply chain fulfillment, pharmaceutical/animal health, record storage and food storage operations.
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors (VAWD) compliant, the location of SubTropolis’ energy-efficient space is first-stop/last-stop for UPS and FedEx. The facility offers excellent speed-to-market opportunity and is capable of delivering potential tenants a 100,000-sq.-ft., built-to-suit warehouse in 120 days.
“Our team at RLE International offers an upfront innovation strategy to transform customers’ base vehicles to a range of design variants, right from ideation, through design and development, and into low-volume production,” said Robert Kokx, President of RLE USA. “With the addition of our Mod Center, we can offer a ‘one-stop shop’ solution to our clients. We are truly excited to join forces with the talented people Kansas City has to offer and together take on our new possibilities.”
New positions at RLE’s facility will include Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Engineering Manager, Quality Manager, IT systems engineer, production supervisors, human resource generalists and more. The 85 new jobs will pay an average annual salary of more than $67,000, which is well above the county average wage. A list of employment opportunities are available on RLE’s website.
“As America’s crossroads, Kansas City, Missouri is excited to welcome RLE,” said Steven Anthony, Executive Director of Business Development for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. “Our location, availability of skilled talent, and our business climate will serve RLE very well. We look forward to welcoming them to our community.”
The Kansas City region is a top automotive logistics hub, home to major production facilities for both Ford and General Motors, as well as nearly 70 auto industry suppliers. The region employs more than 20,000 individuals in the auto and transportation industry and continues to see significant economic investment from the automotive sector.
“As the second-largest auto hub in North America, the KC region is a key location for RLE International as the company continues to innovate and grow within the industry,” said Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “The $19 billion transportation manufacturing industry in KC allows companies, including RLE, to streamline supply chain operations and lower operating costs.”
About RLE International
RLE’s vision is dedicated to a “cleaner and better” future of mobility. RLE is committed to electrification and battery development to make a significant difference by supporting clients’ zero emissions goals throughout the seven global regions it serves. The company thrives in this mobility domain (automotive, commercial fleets, trucking, and more) and soon will be organically growing and offering services to the rest of the transportation domain (off-road, agricultural, material handling, transit, micro-grid and more).
To learn more about RLE International, visit RLEinternational.com.
About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)
Serving the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area, the Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 60,000 new jobs over its 40-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort and TeamKC. www.thinkKC.com
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” The KC region is a center for leading industries including technology, logistics, animal health and entrepreneurship, and is home to a renowned arts community. www.KC.org