Mahle Powertrain is taking
over property recently acquired from Westport Fuel Systems in a move that will
create new jobs and accelerate a variety of advanced engine-development programmes.
The
company will officially open its new North American headquarters in Plymouth,
Michigan, in November. This part of a $16 million North American expansion by
the business to grow its activities in the region.
Mahle Powertrain
will move from its
corporate headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to the 45,000-square-foot
building at 14900 Galleon Court in Plymouth.
However, although the company is one of
the world’s leading engineering services companies, its North American
powertrain operation is relatively modest compared with other powertrain
R&D groupings. Ricardo Inc. in the US for example has operations in
Detroit, Michigan, Santa Clara, California and Chicago, Illinois.
Mahle Powertrain currently employs over
40 people but expects to add up to 20 new powertrain engineering positions over
the next several years.
The new Plymouth location is equipped
with a four-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer, seven vehicle lifts, five
powertrain test cells and a wiring-and-instrumentation laboratory.
Further expansion plans call for two
additional powertrain test cells, upgrades to engine and vehicle test beds to
meet regulatory requirements for certification, and additional equipment to
support hybrid-electric vehicle testing.
“Our Plymouth headquarters will be one
of the most technically advanced engine-development facilities in North
America,” said Hugh Blaxill, managing director of Mahle Powertrain LLC. “The
new facility is designed to support a wide range of advanced engine-development
activities, including Mahle’s Jet Ignition programme.”
Blaxill adds that the move also will
enable the company to provide additional customer support in advanced engine
testing for gasoline, diesel, hybrid, propane and natural gas powertrains.
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