Takata subsidiary TK Holdings, the research division of the automotive supplier, has committed to invest $14.6 million and create 40 new jobs at its facilities in Auburn Hills.
The expansion of its current facility, where it employs 537 people, comes out in the latest announcement of job-creating deals brokered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Takata received $766,000 tax credit for eight years. Auburn Hills is also considering a $515,000 tax abatement.
In return, the firm plans to install a new servo-hydraulic crash simulation sled, which will allow the company to conduct automotive crash simulations. It will be used for engineering and R&D by the site's workers. It will be part of a 18,500-square-foot expansion of the Auburn Hills facility set to take place later this year.
"There will be five immediate hires as soon as that happens," says Alby Berman, vice president of marketing and public relations for Takata.
The new sled reduces the time between tests compared to the sled currently in place and positions the facility for future growth. Michigan was competing with one of Takata's facilities in Mexico.
Takata is based in Japan and specializes in manufacturing safety-restraint equipment, such as safety belts and airbags. Its customers include Honda, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, BMW and Subaru.
Source: Alby Berman, vice president of marketing
and public relations for Takata
Writer: Jon Zemke
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