El Paso, Texas - UPS Inc. recently began the development of a $41 million facility in El Paso, Texas, to expand its work in the cross-border market along the Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico corridor.

The 153,000-square-foot facility has been added to UPS Smart Global Logistics Network and will serve producers in the automotive, electronics, appliances and machinery industries. The facility is scheduled to begin operations this fall.

"El Paso is the gateway to one of the most important industrial corridors in the U.S.-Mexico trade lane," said Craig Wiltz, president of the Red River District of UPS that covers Oklahoma and Texas.

The El Paso facility will support the UPS Trade Direct Cross Border service, which allows for shipments to bypass distribution centers and be shipped directly to retail stores or end consumers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

UPS said the project is part of its plan to expand its global logistics group, which focuses on cross-border trade. Since 2016, UPS has announced plans for 16 new and expanded U.S. facilities that will create 8,650 full- and part-time jobs in the group.