Yesterday, Toyota announced it will invest $28 million in its technical center located in Ann Arbor, MI. The new expansion will support the development of Toyota’s powertrain, specifically in the areas of calibration, evaluation, and design on new engine and transmission projects. Toyota also expects to hire 60 employees; there are currently 999 employees working at the tech center.
Cynthia Mahalak, Toyota’s assistant manager of external affairs, says growing the company’s operations in Ann Arbor was a no-brainer given the amount of design and engineering talent in Southeast Michigan. “Michigan is the hub of R&D for the auto industry,” she adds. “It’s a great location to be in.”
Toyota opened Ann Arbor’s tech center in 1977 and has developed a number of vehicles there, including the 2013 Avalon and 2014 Tundra. Since 1977, Toyota has invested more than a billion dollars in its Michigan operations. During the past 20 months, Toyota has invested $2 billion in its North American manufacturing facilities, adding more than 4,000 new jobs.
