August 20, 2007

VÄXJÖ, SWEDEN - On the first day of her investment mission to Sweden and Germany, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met with executives from Trelleborg Automotive, and announced the company will invest $10.2 million in a new technical center in Northville Township to be used for advanced engineering and project development activities.  The investment by Trelleborg Rubore, a division of Trelleborg Automotive, is expected to create 32 new jobs.

Granholm also met with executives from Volvo to make the case for the automaker's future investments in Michigan and gave remarks during the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Days.  The governor and Michigan Economic Development President and CEO James C. Epolito are in Sweden and Germany this week to encourage Swedish and German businesses seeking to expand their presence in the U.S. to do so in Michigan.

"We are aggressively targeting advanced automotive companies like Trelleborg to diversify and transform our economy to create new jobs," Granholm said.  "As the global center of automotive R&D, Michigan is the perfect place for Trelleborg to grow its global presence."

Trelleborg Automotive is a world-leader in the development and production of polymer-based components and systems used for noise and vibration damping for cars and light and heavy trucks.  The company operates two facilities in Michigan:  its North American headquarters and research center in South Haven and a manufacturing facility in Sandusky.  Trelleborg Rubore also has a sales office in Bloomfield Hills. Trelleborg has approximately 340 employees in the state.

During the opening ceremonies of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Days, the governor highlighted the numerous advantages of doing business in Michigan and the state's diversification efforts to expand into new high-tech industries like alternative energy.

Granholm noted the tremendous strides made in growing the alternative energy industry in Michigan, including the 21st Century Jobs Fund, 20 ethanol or biodiesel fuel manufacturing plants in operation or under construction, Michigan State University's role in the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, and Michigan Technological University's "woods to wheels" program.

Founded in 1906, the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce includes 20 local chambers across the U.S. serving over 2,500 members in both the U.S. and Sweden. Approximately 600 business and government leaders are expected to attend the three-day event.

"I'm confident that this mission will continue to pave the way for new investment and jobs for Michigan," Epolito said.  "There is definitely a buzz about Michigan - business leaders around the world are impressed with our monumental efforts to transform our state and help companies grow, and they want to be a part of all the exciting things that are happening here."

Other meetings this week scheduled for Granholm and Epolito with high-level executives from Swedish and German companies looking to invest and grow in the U.S. include:  SECO Tools, Atlas Copco, Chemrec, EDAG Engineering + Design, Ersol Energy, Maschinenfabrik Spaichingen, Behr-Hella Thermocontrol, Brose North America, and ZF Lemforder.

Granholm's previous investment missions to Germany and Japan have resulted in more than $302 million in new investment in Michigan and more than 2,300 new jobs.