October 3, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today participated in the grand opening celebration of a new World Engine plant in Dundee, the first of two manufacturing facilities for the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. 

The new 450,000 square foot facility is expected to create 172 new jobs in the first year of operation and 400 new jobs over a five-year period.  The plant will produce a new family of 4-cylinder aluminum engines to be used in vehicles of all three automotive partners. 

“I am so pleased that this global partnership chose to locate in the world’s automotive nerve center,” said Granholm.  “This new plant further cements Michigan’s position as the leader in the automotive industry and strengthens our ability to compete for new advanced automotive manufacturing facilities and jobs.”

According to an economic analysis conducted by the University of Michigan, another 736 jobs could be created indirectly as a result of the increased economic activity the new plant will generate. Additionally, a second World Engine plant announced last year is expected to create 300 new jobs over a five-year period and 542 jobs indirectly.

Signaling the changing and increasingly high-tech nature of auto manufacturing, employees at the World Engine facilities are required to have either advanced training or an associate’s degree to work at the plants.

“These high-tech, high-skill jobs of the future are exactly what my administration is working to attract through a comprehensive jobs package,” the Governor added.  “This new plant sends a clear message that Michigan is open for business,”
                
Michigan is currently the number one location in North America for automotive-related research and development (R&D) and is home to 215 of the world’s vehicle research and development companies, spending more than $10 billion per year.  More automotive-related R&D is conducted in Michigan than in the other 49 states, Canada and Mexico combined.

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