Nexteer Automotive has opened its new world headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The strategically located headquarters provides a strong platform for increased industry presence and expanded reach for skilled talent.
To commemorate the event, Nexteer held a grand opening ceremony attended by domestic and foreign government dignitaries, customers, suppliers and industry partners. The event highlighted the company’s global growth since its acquisition five years ago by PCM, and its dedication to innovation not only in its steering and driveline systems, but also in how employees work on a daily basis. It also previewed the headquarters’ application of numerous collaborative technologies to increase operational efficiency and create a seamless global workflow.
“Since the acquisition five years ago, we have established Nexteer as neither a Chinese company, nor an American company. We see ourselves as a model global company with deep roots in the global automotive industry,” said Guibin Zhao, chairman, executive board director and CEO, Nexteer Automotive, during the event. “Because we are a global company, we have made a deliberate choice to set up our new smart home among our customers, peers and thought-leaders in the heart of the global automotive industry right here in the state of Michigan in Oakland County and in the city of Auburn Hills.”
The facility houses all corporate functions that are global and strategic in nature. The company says the team broadens its industry involvement through its proximity to customers, suppliers and industry partners. In addition to its geographic location, the new facility features collaborative tools to enable real-time collaboration among team members located around the world.
“In Auburn Hills, we are afforded an enhanced strategic opportunity with our customers and partners. We’ve ingrained ourselves in industry discussions and look forward to taking on an even greater role in shaping the future of mobility,” said Mike Richardson, senior vice president, executive board director and chief strategy officer, Nexteer Automotive.
Part of Nexteer’s active role in embracing future mobility technology is rooted in its commitment to Michigan. In addition to its Auburn Hills World Headquarters, Nexteer operates a Global Technology Center in Saginaw, Michigan. This engineering center is focused on the company’s core technology advancement and global support of its regional product teams. Saginaw also is home to Nexteer’s North America Division administration and U.S. manufacturing. Since 2010, Nexteer has invested nearly $500 million in its Michigan production facilities and currently employs a Michigan workforce of more than 5,000.
The 52,000-square-foot headquarters houses 150 Nexteer employees and features a full-service cafe, ergonomic workspaces, recycled and renewable building materials, high-efficiency HVAC and lighting systems. In addition to advanced collaboration tools, the facility showcases digital signage with interactive company information and current news, weather and traffic reports.
