Mahle Powertrain opening HQ in Plymouth

Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that Mahle Powertrain will open a new headquarters in Plymouth while its parent company will keep corporate headquarters in Farmington Hills.

Automotive supplier Mahle Powertrain will move its headquarters to a 45,000-square-foot building in Plymouth by November.

Mahle Powertrain, currently based in Farmington Hills in Mahle’s coporate headquarters, recently acquired the Plymouth facility from Westport Fuel Systems. The move is part of a $16 million North American expansion expected to accelerate advanced engine-development programs, the company said.

Mahle Powertrain currently employs more than 40 people in North America. It expects to add 20 powertrain engineering positions in the next several years.

“Our Plymouth headquarters will be one of the most technically advanced engine-development facilities in North America,” said Hugh Blaxill, managing director. “The new facility is designed to support a wide range of advanced engine-development activities, including Mahle’s Jet Ignition program.”

The new facility has a four-wheel drive chassis dynamometer, seven vehicle lifts, five powertrain test cells and a wiring-and-instrumentation laboratory. Expansion plans will add two additional powertrain test cells and vehicle test beds.

Blaxill said the move will add more customer support in advanced engine testing to Mahle, too.

Mahle, the parent company, operates in 34 countries, with 15 major development locations in the U.S., Germany, Brazil, Japan, China and other countries.

ithibodeau@detroitnews.com

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