Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Plymouth Township welcomes 250 jobs

Supplier can get its retractable hard tops to local DaimlerChrysler and GM plants faster.

By Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

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PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP -- Auto supplier Karmann USA has opened its first production facility in the United States, bringing 250 high-paying jobs to the area.

The $15 million facility was built adjacent to the company's technical center on Pilot Drive in Plymouth Township.

The Karmann Group is a $2.5 billion-a-year company that produces retractable hard tops for automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

The new plant will allow the company to build convertible modules for General Motors and DaimlerChrysler, too.

"It's a great community for us," said Mark Stevens, vice president and director of sales and marketing for the company.

"They have been very helpful in building our technical center and our manufacturing plant. The main reason is to have our plant directly across from our technical center. It's all new market share for us, and it's our first venture in the Untied States. Everything is going according to plan at this point."

The company considered other sites, but the 145,000-square-foot facility in Plymouth Township will allow Karmann to get its products to local GM and DaimlerChrysler plants faster.

The state also gave the company a $2.9 million business tax credit to build the plant.

Rita Wilheim, who has lived in Plymouth Township for 11 years, was pleased when she heard the company is coming to the area.

"That will be great. We need more businesses in there," Wilheim said. "It's bringing more jobs and growth in the downtown area, and it will help the housing (market). It's nice anytime anybody comes into Plymouth and brings more business. It's a plus for the township and city."

Eventually, Karmann USA would like to build specialty cars in the county. The company's German parent already builds the Chrysler Crossfire and Audi A4.

"We're delighted that an international corporation chose Plymouth Township and will supply the world from this location," said Plymouth Township Supervisor Richard Reaume.

"It means jobs, jobs and more jobs. And these are good high-paying jobs from an international company that supplies to every major global manufacturer."

You can reach Darren A. Nichols at (734) 462-2190 or dnichols@detnews.com.