Eberspaecher Expansion in Brighton to Create and Retain 276 Jobs, Spark $60 Million Investment

Producing Emissions Control Equipment for Large Truck Market

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced state support for improvements to the Eberspaecher North America  (ENA) manufacturing facility in Brighton needed to accommodate new EPA emissions reduction regulations aimed at the large truck market. The $59.8 million project will add 105 new jobs and retain 171 jobs.

“We welcome Eberspaecher’s continued investment in Michigan,” Granholm said. “This project comes on the heels of the company’s 2002 expansion in Brighton and underscores the advantages of being located at the heart of the automotive industry.”

Based on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s recommendation, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority today approved a $7.4 millionbrownfield tax credit to support the project.   

Granholm met with Eberspaecher Group CEO Gunter Baumann at the parent company’s headquarters in Esslinger in 2004 during her five-day investment mission to Germany to help convince German companies to invest and create new jobs in Michigan. At that time, the company announced plans to proceed with Phase 2 of its manufacturing facility in Brighton.

Eberspaecher opened its North American headquarters and research and development center in Novi in 2002. The company engineers and manufactures exhaust systems and vehicle heating systems.

The ENA Brighton facility will undergo improvements to focus on production of emissions control equipment for the automotive and large truck marketplace. The project will support growing industry requirements to meet stringent new EPA emissions reduction regulations for new large vehicles. The company currently produces and assembles components for light vehicles. The expansion includes acquisition and development of a contiguous 4.72-acre site to accommodate 60,000-square-feet of space for light industrial and warehousing operations. Eberspaecher GmbH, ENA's parent company, employs more than 5,500people in 19 countries, and is a leader in development of "green" technologies for the automotive industry.

“The use of the state’s brownfieldincentives to support this major auto supplier as it responds to changes in the marketplace is one of the purposes for which this programs was enacted,” MEDC President and CEO James C. Epolito said. “Flexibility and the ability to adapt to change are the hallmarks of successful organizations.”   

ENA’s expansion is among 20 economic development projects the Governor announced today. In all, they are expected to create and retain 9,495 jobs. Michigan brownfield programs provide incentives to invest in property that has been used for industrial, commercial or residential purposes and to keep that property in productive use or return it to a productive use. Brownfield incentives can be used for functionallyobsolete, blighted, or contaminated property. In her 2008 State of the State address, Granholm emphasized the importance of making Michigan a leader in creating opportunity in the changing world of the 21st century. Since January 2005 the governor and MEDC have announced the creation or retention of more than 257,000 jobs as a result of targeted assistance provided by the MEDC.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.