Assembly line in the Westport WiNG Facility, Kentucky
Westport Innovations Inc., developer of natural gas engines, has officially opened the Westport Kentucky Integration Center (WKIC). Home to the new Westport™ WiNG Power System assembly center, this new facility is capable of installing up to 20,000 systems per year. “Louisville was a natural choice for the location of our newest Westport facility,” said Douglas Mann, Director of Manufacturing, Westport LD. “Westport has had a warm welcome from the state and the community, and we’re very pleased to be supporting economic growth and establishing new jobs and technologies in the region.”
As a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM), Westport LD has developed a fully integrated, bi-fuel system that meets or exceeds original equipment manufacturing (OEM) standards. The WiNG Power System is designed, built, installed and delivered to customers through Westport LD authorized Ford dealers/distributors. The Ford vehicle warranty remains intact and the additional components are warranted by Westport LD to the same levels.
The Westport Kentucky Integration Center is located across the street from the Ford Motor Company Kentucky Truck Plant. The WiNG Power System powered Ford trucks are a ship-through OEM product: the trucks are taken directly from the Ford Plant to WKIC where the natural gas fuel system is installed. The trucks then head back to Ford for delivery to Ford dealerships.
“Westport is a global leader in fuel technologies, and we’re proud to have a company of its caliber here in the Commonwealth,” said Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. “The automotive industry is thriving here in the Bluegrass, and the addition of Westport only strengthens that ever-growing industry.”
Westport has been approved for tax incentives of up to $750,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments.
(This article compiled using information from a Westport Innovations Inc. press release)
