Global automotive supplier DENSO is investing $10 million and adding 176 new jobs to expand its North American headquarters in Southfield, Mich. The investment, which includes the purchase of an existing 81,000-square-foot office building on its current campus, will increase its research and development capabilities in the region.
The expansion is part of the company’s plan to invest nearly $1 billion and create 2,000 jobs in North America over a four-year span. Of this, more than $750 million and 1,200 will be in the United States alone.
“We’re on track with our North American investment commitment, and to date, of the 1,200 jobs we’ve committed to creating in the U.S., we’ve already added 1,100,” said Terry Helgesen, senior vice president, Industry Relations, DENSO International America, Inc. “Overall we have added more than 640 jobs in Tennessee, 425 in Michigan and 50 in California.”
DENSO’s North American investments
In Michigan, DENSO will invest approximately $10 million and will add approximately 176 new jobs at DENSO International America (DIAM) in Southfield, Mich. The investment will expand research and development of next generation technologies to improve fuel economy and safety. Along with this, DENSO has purchased a new building on Oak Hollow Drive. The overall project includes laboratory and testing facilities to support the development of components for:
• Electric hybrid vehicles
• Gasoline direct injection systems
• High output alternators
• Infotainment and connectivity products
In Tennessee, DENSO will invest approximately $55 million and add 130 positions at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT) to expand its gasoline direct injection lines. This is in addition to the $55 million investment and 130 new jobs that DENSO announced last year to localize its gasoline direct injection lines, bringing the total investment to $105 million and 260 new jobs.
In Montgomery, Ala., DENSO is investing approximately $2.2 million to open a new shipping plant, named DENSO Manufacturing Michigan Alabama (DMMI-AL), resulting in at least 45 new positions. DMMI-AL will support the warehousing and shipping of Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) units and other parts for its North American customers. Start of operation is scheduled for April 2014.
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