AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Faurecia, reported to be the world’s sixth-largest automotive supplier, has begun operations in Saline, Mich., after acquiring the interior trim components business from Automotive Components Holdings LLC (ACH) from Ford Motor Co.
 
The plant supplies cockpits, instrument panels, door panels and center consoles for 12 vehicle programs assembled at eight Ford plants throughout North America. Faurecia also announced that it is establishing a Faurecia Interior Systems customer center in Southfield, Mich., which will house more than 200 employees, including more than 50 new professional jobs in 2012.
 
The Southfield team will include Ford Customer Business Unit personnel from Faurecia Interior Systems’ Auburn Hills Tech Center and staff formerly with ACH. A significant number of positions at the Southfield Customer Center, however, will be new jobs filled by candidates from within southeast Michigan, the company says. The operation will occupy approximately 50,000 square feet on the 17th and 18th floors of the building.
 
"The Southfield Customer Center will allow us to bring the former ACH personnel associated with Saline’s operations together with those from Faurecia to work as a closely knit team in support of this transformation and future growth," said Faurecia Interior Systems North America President Jean-Michel Renaudie. "We are pleased to be able to retain the skills and knowledge of the ACH personnel who are joining Faurecia, to bring more jobs to the region and to reassert Faurecia’s commitment to southeast Michigan."
 
Under Faurecia ownership, Saline will become a technology plant that focuses on such core technologies as injection molding, skin manufacturing and foaming operations for interior systems. Current programs at Saline include the Ford F-150, Expedition, Explorer, Focus, Mustang, Taurus, and Lincoln Navigator and MKS.