MAHLE Powertrain is opening a new North American facility in Plymouth, Michigan/USA later this year as a part of a $16 million North American expansion that will create new jobs and accelerate a variety of advanced engine-development programs.
MAHLE Powertrain will enhance its current engine and vehicle testing capability with a 45,000-square-foot building at 14900 Galleon Court in Plymouth, recently acquired from Westport Fuel Systems. The official opening of the new facility is expected to take place in early November.
MAHLE Powertrain is one of the world’s leading engineering services companies. The North American powertrain operation currently employs more than 40 people and expects to add up to 20 new powertrain engineering positions over the next several years.
The new Plymouth location is equipped with a four-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer, seven vehicle lifts, five powertrain test cells and a wiring-and-instrumentation laboratory. Further expansion plans call for two additional powertrain test cells, upgrades to engine and vehicle test beds to meet regulatory requirements for certification, and additional equipment to support hybrid-electric vehicle testing.
“Our new Plymouth location will be one of the most technically advanced engine-development facilities in North America,” says Hugh Blaxill, managing director of MAHLE Powertrain, LLC. “The new facility is designed to support a wide range of advanced engine-development activities, including MAHLE’s Jet Ignition program.”
Blaxill adds that the move also will enable MAHLE to provide additional customer support in advanced engine testing for gasoline, diesel, hybrid, propane and natural gas powertrains.
