Stellantis car parts facility planned for Georgia could mean quicker repairs

At the heart of the operation in Monroe County will be a 16,000-square-foot AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system — a high-density grid of bins worked by 66 robots that will ferry parts to processing stations.

The setup is designed to increase accuracy, speed orders and turn inventory faster while reducing the footprint needed for storage. Stellantis said the building will use energy-saving technologies and sustainable practices to minimize its operational footprint.

Network expansion

The Forsyth parts distribution center will consolidate regional operations as part of a larger reshaping of the company’s after-sales footprint.

In July, Stellantis announced a $388 million metro Detroit “megahub,” its largest parts facility project to date, and earlier this year it opened a $64 million parts center in East Fishkill, New York. Together, these investments approach $500 million, demonstrating that parts logistics is now as strategic as vehicle assembly.

What it means for drivers

For Georgia consumers, the potential upside is faster parts availability and shorter repair times, fewer return visits when shipments slip and less time in a loaner or rental car.

A large parts facility along the I-75 corridor improves next-day delivery into metro Atlanta and surrounding markets while extending reach across neighboring states. When a back-ordered camera, control module or bumper cover becomes a one-day shipment instead of a multiweek wait, customers feel it.

Older cars, rising repairs

This investment lands as many households are keeping vehicles longer. Estimates put the average age of vehicles on U.S. roads at about 12.8 years — a record high — pushed up by elevated new-car prices and higher interest rates. Faced with the math of a new payment, owners increasingly get repairs to extend the life of a paid-off vehicle.

That choice, repeated across millions of driveways, pressures the parts pipeline for wear items like brakes and tires and for pricier components such as alternators, catalytic converters and driver-assistance sensors.

Boost for independent shops

Dealers and independent shops depend on strong fill rates — the share of orders fulfilled immediately. Better distribution by manufacturers lets service providers quote timelines with more confidence and keeps technicians productive instead of waiting on boxes.

Even when a repair is complex, predictable delivery windows help sequence work, reduce returns tied to incorrect parts and keep bays turning.

Georgia’s growing auto footprint

The project deepens Georgia’s automotive ecosystem.

Hyundai Motor Group opened the initial phase of its massive manufacturing complex near Savannah last year. In West Point, Kia continues to build vehicles, including the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, EV6 and EV9 SUVs, and the K5 sedan.

With the Port of Savannah, Hartsfield-Jackson’s cargo capacity and interstate access, Georgia’s logistics backbone looks tailor-made for parts distribution.

Jobs and ripple effects

The immediate job count — about 90 union roles — may be modest next to an assembly plant, but parts facilities carry multiplier effects. They support freight carriers, packaging suppliers, building services and maintenance contractors. Just as important, after-sales demand tends to be steadier than new-vehicle cycles. People maintain cars in boom times and stretch them in lean times. Either way, parts move.

Expectations and limits

Not every repair will be instantaneous, and specialized components like certain electronic modules, unique trim pieces or structural parts can still require lead time. Collision supply chains tighten when severe weather drives a spike in claims.

But a major Mopar parts facility in Forsyth should shift the average experience in the right direction: fewer delays, more accurate parts on the first try and clearer communication about timelines.

Why it matters

In that sense, this is both a jobs story and a consumer story. As Georgians weigh whether to buy new or keep what they own, a stronger parts network can quietly tip the scales toward repair when it makes financial sense.

Keeping vehicles on the road safely and efficiently is good business — for automakers, dealers, independent shops and, most important, the drivers who depend on their cars to get to work, school and everywhere in between.

Brian Moody is a senior editor of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, and an automotive expert specializing in transportation, car shopping, electric cars, in-car technology and future vehicles.