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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Lear Corporation Upgrades-Expands Michigan Facilities

12/16/2022
Lear Corporation, a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems, will upgrade manufacturing plants in Independence Township, Traverse City and Sterling Heights, Michigan. The $112.5 million project is expected to create 500 jobs.

The company plans to expand its current plant in Traverse City to manufacture components related to the EV battery pack and upgrade its Sterling Heights facility in order to increase production of the engineered plastics needed for the new components. In addition, Lear is planning to utilize a facility in Independence Township to manufacture highly technical, PACE Award-winning Battery Disconnect Units and other vehicle electrification sub-systems for advanced batteries that will be supplied to automakers.

“Lear is proud to select Independence Township as the future home of an all-new production facility, and we thank the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for its support,” said Ray Scott, Lear President and CEO. “The plant is slated to start production in early 2024 and will provide battery disconnect units and other vehicle electrification technologies. As a Michigan-headquartered company, it’s important to make this investment in our backyard as we continue to grow our portfolio of products for electric vehicles.”

The project is being supported by a $4.5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved a 15-year, 100-percent State Essential Services Assessment exemption valued at $1.9 million in support of the project.

“Whenever a company like Lear has operations elsewhere, you’re always in a pitch battle to make sure that when they’re making resource allocation decisions, those resources come to Michigan,” MEDC President and CEO Quentin Messer, Jr. noted. “This is important because Lear has been here since 1917, and we can’t take for granted that if we don’t go out and earn it everyday, they’re going to be here for over another 100 years. We have to be flexible and see ourselves as partners to our existing companies and earn their business daily.”

Lear Corporation manufactures automotive seating and automotive electrical systems. The company is a global automotive technology leader in Seating and E-Systems providing superior in-vehicle experiences for consumers globally.

“Lear Corporation is a longstanding and significant member of our regional manufacturing sector,” added Warren Call, president and CEO of Traverse Connect. “With the support of our community and the MEDC, this expansion will provide significant economic value to our regional economy and is an important next step in growing the segment of our workforce engaged in advanced and high-technology manufacturing.”

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