JCB, a manufacturer of construction, agricultural, and defence equipment, has celebrated the ground-breaking of a new $500m factory in San Antonio, Texas, US. 

The company announced plans for this facility in October last year.  

The new facility, spanning 720,000ft², will be situated on a 400-acre plot. It marks JCB's second-largest manufacturing plant worldwide. 

Set to begin operations in 2026, the plant will produce Loadall telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, catering to the North American market. 

JCB North America president and CEO Richard Fox-Marrs said: “The Loadall telescopic handler is JCB's biggest selling product in North America and it is also the single largest market for aerial access equipment worldwide, and therefore, it makes great sense to build these two ranges here." 

“Texas is an obvious choice for our new North American manufacturing facility, not least because the state is the largest consumer of construction equipment in the USA.” 

Additionally, the facility will have the capacity to expand and diversify its manufacturing capabilities to include other products. 

It is expected to generate 1,500 new jobs over the next five years. 

Texas' governor Greg Abbott said: “Today's ground-breaking marks a major milestone in JCB's journey that will create 1,500 good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans in Bexar County and bring hundreds of millions of new capital investment to San Antonio and beyond.  

“'Made in Texas' is truly a powerful global brand, and I look forward to celebrating JCB's continuing success as we work together to build a bigger, better Texas for decades to come.” 

JCB established its first US manufacturing footprint in 2001 with a plant in Savannah, Georgia.