Surprise —or not, automakers plan to ramp up hiring in the US for 2012. There are several reasons, the first being that auto sales are on a rebound from their historic lows during the recession, during which about 200,000 workers were laid off. Many jobs openings will recall workers who lost their jobs in previous layoffs, but it’s still good news for local economies as those workers will again have money to spend.

Industry analysts note that unfavorable currency exchange rates create a strong motivation for manufacturers to “build where you sell”.

Nissan plan to add around 1,000 workers at its existing Tennessee plant; South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are also considering major expansion of their US based manufacturing.

German automaker Audi may add a US plant at the existing Volkswagen facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Both North and South Carolina stand to benefit as Mercedes-Benz and BMW ramp up operations at existing facilities in each state and hire workers. Domestic company Ford Motor Co. plans to add jobs at their factories in Wayne, Mich., Louisville, Ky., and Chicago. Chrysler plan to hire in Detroit, where it builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Viper.

Tesla Motors, Inc. and Coda Automotive, Inc. plan to ramp up employment in California as they bring new electric powered vehicles to market this year.

Of note: some new jobs will be at a significantly lower wage ($15 to $16/hr vs. $28 to $29/hr) than those for current or recalled workers that are ‘grandfathered in’ because of labor agreements.

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