Front seat: Parts maker's new plant in Ky.

Automotive supplier Faurecia North America has announced plans to build a new seat factory in Simpsonville that will employ 410 workers.

Executives with the French company said Thursday they intend to break ground on a 220,000-square foot facility on undeveloped property in the Kingbrook Commerce Park in Shelby County this year with production starting in 2016. The estimated investment: $18.8 million.

"With existing Faurecia plants already producing interior systems and emissions control technologies in Louisville, our seating facility in Simpsonville expands Faurecia's company-wide commitment to this region," Jacques Mauge, chairman and chief operating executive officer, said in a prepared statement.

"We are proud to be in Kentucky and to participate in the local community as a partner with Simpsonville residents," Mauge said.

Faurecia's Louisville emissions plant, which makes "hot end" exhaust components — the line from manifold to catalytic converter — supplies Ford and Nissan and sends mufflers to Chrysler, according to company spokesman Tony Sapienza.

At the interior systems plant, instrument panels are made for Ford and General Motors. Door panels and center consoles also are made for Ford, he said.

Sapienza declined in an email to say which automaker would receive new seats from Simpsonville, but did confirm that the expansion is "for an existing customer."

Faurecia Automotive is the world's seventh largest automotive supplier and sixth largest in North America where there are more than 20,000 employees and sales of about $6.25 billion. The two Louisville plants have a combined workforce of 860.

Faurecia received preliminary approval for up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program administered by the Cabinet for Economic Development.

The 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 by meeting job and investment targets, Joe Hall, a cabinet spokesman, said.

Under the terms of the agreement, which requires the company to meet job and wage targets, Kentucky would provide wage assessments at 1.5 percent and Shelby County would participate at 0.5 percent for five years, Hall said.

Reporter Grace Schneider can be reached at 502-582-4082. Follow her on Twitter @gesinfk.