Hitachi Rail has officially opened its new $100 million production facility in Hagerstown, marking a major investment in North American rail manufacturing. The 300,000-square-foot factory will create more than 500 direct advanced manufacturing jobs, sustain more than 1,300 local positions, and generate an estimated $350 million in annual wages across the region.
Governor Wes Moore, who joined company leaders at the opening, said the project strengthens Maryland’s role in the transit and manufacturing sectors. “Hitachi Rail’s new Hagerstown factory will not only create hundreds of jobs and power the region’s transit infrastructure with railcars equipped with cutting-edge technology, but it affirms Maryland’s position as a premier location for global investment in the industries of the future,” Moore said.
North American Expansion
The new facility, named a “lighthouse” site within Hitachi’s global network, will begin producing fleets of metro railcars for systems including Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Each railcar will be equipped with AI-powered video analytics, anti-collision systems, and proximity alert technology designed to improve passenger safety.
Weiss Technik North America, a subsidiary of Germany’s Schunk Group, plans to build a 125,000-square-foot facility in Kentwood. The $25.6 million investment will create 36 skilled positions and expand the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint.
As part of its investment, Hitachi Rail allocated more than $30 million to digital enhancements, integrating technology from Hitachi Digital Services and GlobalLogic to monitor supply chains, automate processes, and provide full product transparency. An on-site customer experience center will showcase these capabilities to visitors.
Sustainability Commitment
Hitachi Rail has pledged to operate the Hagerstown facility as carbon neutral. Renewable energy sources, solar installations, and Hitachi’s H-Vision analytics platform will be used to track energy and water usage. The company has also committed to planting more than 400 trees around the site and maintaining zero landfill waste from the start of operations. These measures are expected to save more than 800,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Hitachi leaders described the factory as a critical step in scaling operations in North America. “Our $100 million Hagerstown site represents a strategic investment in North America, sustaining 1,300 jobs and delivering the next generation of rail manufacturing,” said Hitachi Rail Group CEO Giuseppe Marino.
Maryland-Japan Trade Ties
The facility highlights growing trade and investment links between Maryland and Japan. In 2023, trade between the two reached $6.1 billion, supporting more than 5,500 jobs in the state. At least 33 Japanese-owned firms have invested over $1.1 billion in Maryland over the last two decades, with strong presence in manufacturing and life sciences.
Governor Moore, who met Hitachi executives during a trade mission to Japan earlier this year, said the partnership underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing clean energy and technology-driven growth.
