ArvinMeritor, Inc. dedicated its new $40 million Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) technology center in southwest Detroit, Mich., today with a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The event officially opened the new, four-story high-tech modern office complex built adjacent to the company's roof and suspension assembly plant, which opened as "phase one" in 2001. Located in the middle of Detroit's largest Renaissance Zone, Southwest/Delray, the center is home to more than 200 LVS professionals who have responsibility for North American product design, engineering, sales, marketing and administrative functions, and more than 250 hourly production employees.
ArvinMeritor Chairman and CEO Larry Yost shared the company's strategy behind the Detroit move.
"It begins with getting closer to your customer," he said. "About five years ago, a majority of our light vehicle design and engineering resources were based outside of the United States. To effectively support our North American customers growing requirements for system design management, we needed to make an investment and grow our light vehicle technology base in this region. At the same time, we recognized the opportunity to make a difference in Detroit and support its revitalization.
"This is a significant investment in the future, and we're determined to make it a successful one for our LVS business, our people and for Detroit."
ArvinMeritor's Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business group posted $4.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2003, and employs 18,000 people at 65 facilities in 23 countries. LVS -- a market leader in the product categories it serves -- supplies integrated systems and modules to the world's leading passenger car and light truck OEMs.