One of the world’s largest technology companies plans to make suburban Detroit the home of its North American electric vehicle battery operations.
Last week, Michigan economic development officials announced that Samsung SDI America, the conglomerate’s U.S. battery subsidiary, would house its first high-volume automotive battery pack manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The facility, The Oakland Press reported, would also include the company's North American automotive battery headquarters and a research and development center. The projected $62 million expansion is expected to add 461 jobs to Samsung's current Michigan workforce of 130 by the end of 2024.
Officials told the paper that Samsung selected the Auburn Hills, Michigan, site over competing bids from Ohio and Oregon partly due to the city’s proximity to its main supplier.
“This new investment and creation of jobs will allow Samsung SDI Inc. to continue developing technologies in automotive battery back manufacturing,” Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin McDaniel said in a statement.
Michigan officials approved a $10 million performance-based grant to support the project and said the city is likely to endorse a property tax break.
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