Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels joined local officials and representatives of two Terre Haute companies in the Vigo County Industrial Park as they announced expansions that will create approximately 225 new jobs for the area.

ThyssenKrupp Presta, a manufacturer of automotive steering columns and subsidiary of German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp, and Aisin Brake & Chassis, a subsidiary of Japan’s Aisin Seiki, are both occupants of the Vigo County Industrial Park.

“These companies already have a solid presence in Terre Haute and are upping their investments,” said Daniels. “Expansions like these that create good-paying jobs for Hoosiers typify the strides we are making in growth throughout the state.”

ThyssenKrupp Presta President Peter Eberle said the company will invest $5.5 million and add a second production line this fall to accommodate the assembly of additional steering columns for Ford Motor Co. The expansion will result in approximately 100 new jobs for area residents.

“Over five years, the volume of these columns will be 2.2 million units with projected sales estimated to be $168 million,” said Eberle.

Aisin Brake & Chassis, a manufacturer of brake parts for automakers such as Toyota, Honda, GM and Mitsubishi, will invest $35 million and add approximately 125 new jobs to their current workforce of 400. The company’s expansion plans call for an addition of 190,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space with a completion date of May 1, 2006.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC), in partnership with Vigo County officials and the Terre Haute Economic Development Corp., worked together to provide state and local incentives that made the expansions possible.