LANSING—Multimatic Sales & Marketing Inc. will build an advanced vehicle development and driving simulation center in Novi with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced.

The company is a subsidiary of Markham, Ontario-based Multimatic Inc., a global supplier of engineered components, systems, and services to the automotive industry.

The project, the first of its kind in North America, is expected to generate total private investment of $7.8 million and create 50 jobs.

Multimatic plans to bring a driving simulator to Michigan, known as SimCenter, where the company will design, develop and deliver technologies related to hybrid and electric vehicles. The center will be located in Novi and will operate as an extension of Multimatic’s current driving simulators in Canada and England.

The center will allow Multimatic to conduct its own internal R&D and will include expanded space for operations including equipment test cells, a control room, conference rooms and a test property preparation area.

As a result of the decision to expand and add jobs in Michigan, Multimatic has been awarded a $603,500 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the expansion over a competing site in Canada.

“Multimatic is optimistic about the growth and opportunity present in the Southeast Michigan area. We are grateful for the support throughout the state of Michigan; the MEDC, Oakland County, and the city of Novi have been tremendous partners throughout our selection process,” said Multimatic President and COO Raj Nair. “With such strong community backing, we look forward to leveraging VI-grade’s state-of-the-art simulator technology and introducing its capabilities to the North American market.”

The Novi City Council will consider a property tax abatement for the project. Individuals interested in careers with Multimatic should visit https://careers.multimatic.com/.

“The opportunity to host Multimatic’s SimCenter would, once again, place Novi on the map as a leader in the development of autonomous vehicle technology,” said Novi Mayor Bob Gatt. “Michigan is the birthplace of the American auto industry and a first of its kind facility such as the SimCenter would continue that proud tradition.”

Multimatic is a supplier of complex mechanisms, body hardware, suspension systems and body structures, as well as the design and development of lightweight composite automotive systems and niche vehicle design, development and production for road and race applications. More at  www.multimatic.com.

This story was published in Technology Century.