Secret developer in Plymouth now identified
May 7, 2019 PLYMOUTH EAGLE.
Plymouth Michigan News
The secret developer in Plymouth Township has now been identified as Webasto
Roof Systems Inc., a German automotive supplier with major contracts from
Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler US.
The company manufactures automotive roof systems and will reportedly invest
$47.9 million in a new manufacturing plant on Haggerty Road near Schoolcraft
in the township and create 441 new jobs in the area.
Members of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees established an Industrial
Development District (IDD) for three parcels of land and were expected to
approve a property tax abatement for the project.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. approved a $2.7 million performance
based grant to the company. Webasto is projecting to double its revenue in
the next two to three years, according to documents provided to the Michigan
Economic Development Corp.
Webasto operates its U.S. headquarters out of Rochester Hills and
subsidiaries Webasto Convertibles USA Inc. and Webasto Thermo & Comfort
North America Inc. in Plymouth Township and Fenton, respectively. The
company employs more than 800 in the state.
Webasto Roof Systems parent Webasto SE is the 61st largest global auto
supplier with $3.9 billion in sales in 2017, according to Automotive News’
Top Suppliers report.
“We’re very happy about this project,” Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt
Heise said. “It’s going to create new jobs and improve our tax base. We’re
hoping it will kickstart a part of our township that has been underutilized
in recent years and spur more development in the Schoolcraft and Haggerty
Road area.”
Indiana and Ohio also offered incentive packages, but Webasto chose Michigan
based on criteria of customer and supply chain locations, labor force,
facility availability, logistics cost and overall business environment,
officials said. Plymouth Township also offered the expected property tax
abatement.
Webasto has more than 800 employees at other locations in Michigan,
including in Fenton, Plymouth Township and Rochester Hills.
Plymouth Voice.
