SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP ? Hyundai Automotive Group hosted the grand opening last week of its new 200,000 square foot research and development center just outside Ann Arbor, where some 400 high tech workers will be employed by 2007.
Sang-Kwon Kim, vice chairman of research and development with Hyundai Automotive Group, was joined by Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the new Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center headquarters.
The tech center will support the development of current and new Hyundai and Kia products for the U.S. market, in areas such as research and analysis, design, emissions, durability testing and regulatory certification.
Since the facility?s groundbreaking in April 2004, the technical center has employed 100 new workers, bolstering the total on-site workforce to approximately 140 people. By the end of 2007, HATCI will employ approximately 400 workers at the Michigan-based tech center and an additional 150 people at HATCI facilities across the country.
?Michigan, as the center of the automotive world, provides the excellent infrastructure and automotive engineering talent pool that a growing company like Hyundai needs to achieve our goal of excellence,? said Vice Chairman Sang-Kwon Kim, speaking on behalf of Hyundai Automotive Group Chairman Mong-Koo Chung.
Nearly three years ago, HATCI conducted a detailed search for a location of its new facility, traveling to multiple sites in a couple of states. Ultimately, corporate officials, due to the efforts of Governor Granholm and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, determined that southeastern Michigan provided the resources necessary for the company to flourish. Governor Granholm applauds HATCI?s decision.
?Hyundai?s new North American R&D headquarters is a welcome addition to Michigan, further enhancing our standing as a high tech automotive research leader,? Granholm said. ?I am thankful for the company?s commitment to our state, and especially for the impact this facility will have on the hundreds of workers that will be employed here.?
Arcadis is the architectural firm of record for the new tech center, and Barton Malow has served as the construction and engineering manager, with assistance from Hyundai?s own Korean-based construction company.
Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. was established in 1986 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.
