As an indication of its growing presence in North America, Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) opened a new North American HQ and manufacturing operation, the first such new OEM facility in Southeast Michigan in more than 25 years.
The expansion is part of a $230 million investment in Southeast Michigan that also includes a recently opened warehouse and logistics operation in Pontiac and an existing prototype operation in Troy. In total, Mahindra has grown to 400,000 square feet across three Detroit area facilities. Over the past 18 months, MANA has tripled its workforce to 250. By 2020, additional planned projects will result in 400 more jobs and another $600 million in local investment over that same period. In addition, MANA will continue to provide Metro Detroit-based engineering support for new vehicle platform development for India and global markets.
The new facility will produce an off-highway vehicle that will extend Mahindra’s current position in this growing segment. Designed and engineered by MANA, the vehicle promises to be unlike anything currently on the market, says the company.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Automotive Division Executive Vice President Rajan Wadhera and MANA President and CEO Rick Haas participated in the facility inauguration along with Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley and members of Congress, Brenda Lawrence and Dave Trott. The event also was attended by elected officials, business leaders and Mahindra employees.
“This is an exciting day for Mahindra, our terrific employees and Detroit. I couldn’t be prouder to be here to help open this new facility today,” said Anand Mahindra. “This building opening represents our company’s growing presence in North America and locally in the Metro Detroit area, where we have tripled our workforce during the past 18 months. We are committed to growing the Mahindra brand in North America and Michigan.”
“This expansion represents a milestone for us and for Michigan,” said Haas. “We started this operation with seven people four years ago – to be crossing the 250 mark is a testament to the hard work of our employees and what this region has to offer in terms of top automotive talent.”
Mahindra was recently named as one of five vehicle manufacturers selected by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to produce prototype delivery trucks for testing and evaluation. At the request of the USPS, details about the program will be available at a later date.
