Hitachi Opens $100-M Railcar Plant Near Washington

Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd. has formally opened a $100 million factory in Maryland, with the new facility capable of producing 20 railcars per month, Kyodo News reported.

Hitachi will initially produce railcars for metro operators in Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. (Photo: Hitachi Global)

Hitachi said the plant in Hagerstown, near Washington, uses artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, including a dog-like robot for quality checks in hard-to-reach areas.

The factory was established to deliver fleets of railcars for customers across North America.

The carbon-neutral facility, covering about 29,000 square meters, is expected to create as many as 1,300 jobs and contribute $350 million annually to the region, Hitachi said.

It will initially produce railcars for metro operators in Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, Mainichi Japan also reported.

Of the total investment, Hitachi has allocated more than $30 million for digital technologies at the factory, its flagship train-production hub in North America.

“This is a very significant step toward growth in the United States,” Hitachi President Toshiaki Tokunaga told a press conference at the plant.

While some segments have been affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Tokunaga said the duties’ direct impact on Hitachi’s railway business is minimal since it is promoting “local production for local consumption.”