Brose to Expand Manufacturing in Michigan; Add 450 Jobs
AUBURN HILLS -- Fueled by significant growth with domestic OEMs, Brose North America, Inc., the leading manufacturer of mechatronic components and systems for vehicle bodies and interiors, signed a purchase agreement for an existing 380,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in New Boston.
The facility will be Brose's third in Michigan and ninth in North America.
Recent new contracts with Chrysler and Ford necessitate expanding the company's manufacturing footprint in North America. For Chrysler, Brose will supply door modules to Jeep's Toledo North Assembly Plant. Brose also was recently awarded additional seat structure business on upcoming Ford passenger car and SUV models.
Almost immediately, hiring will begin and equipment will be delivered with the expectation of production ramping up in early 2013.
Including its regional headquarters in Auburn Hills and a production plant in Warren, Brose North America currently operates eight locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Jan Kowal, President for Brose North America said the company's impressive growth in the region has accelerated the need for additional workers and manufacturing capacity.
"We are pleased with our controlled growth," Kowal said. "In 2011, Brose achieved annual sales of $1 billion in North America and worldwide sales of over $5 billion. This project will mean 450 new Michigan jobs and a combined investment from Brose and its customers of over $60 million by 2017."
"The support of the Michigan government was instrumental in our decision to open the new location here," says Scott Trujillo, vice president of finance of Brose North America. "Talks began in earnest during Governor Rick Snyder's visit to our sales, engineering and production location in Wurzburg, Germany this March. After reviewing many locations in the United States and Canada, we chose New Boston due to the proximity to strategic customers, the positive economic climate for job creation developed by Governor Snyder and favorable new fiscal policies in the State of Michigan."
Brose, a supplier of mechatronic components and electric motor drives for vehicle bodies and interiors, will receive a $3.5 million Michigan Business Development Program incentive to acquire the former Chrysler Mopar site on Bell Road in New Boston. Brose proposes to invest up to $60 million, creating 450 new jobs at the new facility as well as at the Auburn Hills and Warren locations. Huron Charter Township has offered support in the form of a 12 year property tax abatement to the project.
More at www.MichiganAdvantage.org.
