KOKOMO, Ind. — Federal, state and local leaders joined hundreds of Delphi employees to celebrate the company’s investment of more than $25 million in its Kokomo, Ind., operations.
A groundbreaking celebration for two new buildings near the world headquarters of Delphi’s Electronics & Safety division drew the support of guests including Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight; Hodge Patel, district director for U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly, (D-Ind.); and Jack Middleton, director of community relations for U.S. Representative Dan Burton, (R-Ind.)
In his welcoming remarks, Delphi Electronics & Safety President Jeff Owens noted the significance of the project and acknowledged the transition that has occurred over the past few years as Delphi responded to economic conditions.
"Delphi is now well-positioned for the future. We are stronger than ever and investing in our future," Owens said. "With this investment, Delphi Electronics & Safety is consolidating its Kokomo engineering team into two Kokomo locations — the Corporate Technology Center property on East Lincoln Road and the manufacturing facility it opened earlier this year on Morgan Street with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
"We have tremendous resources in Kokomo — in our facilities and, most especially, in our people — and Delphi is investing in resources that are critical to its future growth, to include power electronics, active safety, advanced infotainment, connectivity solutions and powertrain electronics.”
Owens added that this investment supports Delphi’s commitment to continue and expand its leadership in the products and technologies that customers want — vehicles that are safer and greener, and vehicles that allow them to remain connected to their busy lives, "…even while on the go," he said.
The project includes construction of a 70,000-square-foot laboratory building to support high-technology development and validation activities, with a focus on power electronics components for hybrid and electric vehicles, and a 10,000-square-foot utility building to support the utility needs of the East Lincoln Road complex. Both buildings are expected to be occupied and operational by the end of 2011.
