ArvinMeritor Dedicates New Detroit Technology Center
Facility brings the latest in light vehicle technology to North America
TROY, Mich., June 8 -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. dedicated its new $40 million Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) technology center in southwest Detroit, Mich., today with a festive ribbon- cutting ceremony that included the Honorable Jennifer Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan; the Honorable Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor of the City of Detroit, and Detroit Public Schools CEO, Dr. Ken Burnley.
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The event officially opened the new, four-story high-tech modern office complex built adjacent to the company's roof and suspension assembly plant, which opened as "phase one" in 2001. Located in the middle of Detroit's largest Renaissance Zone, Southwest/Delray, the center is home to more than 200 LVS professionals who have responsibility for North American product design, engineering, sales, marketing and administrative functions, and more than 250 hourly production employees.
In welcoming remarks, ArvinMeritor Chairman and CEO Larry Yost shared the company's strategy behind the Detroit move. "It begins with getting closer to your customer," he said. "About five years ago, a majority of our light vehicle design and engineering resources were based outside of the United States. To effectively support our North American customers growing requirements for system design management, we needed to make an investment and grow our light vehicle technology base in this region. At the same time, we recognized the opportunity to make a difference in Detroit and support its revitalization.
"ArvinMeritor is proud to be part of the city of Detroit, as well as to help create jobs in Michigan," Yost said. "We're delighted to have access to a talented, culturally diverse workforce who wants to be part of a winning global manufacturer. This is a significant investment in the future, and we're determined to make it a successful one for our LVS business, our people and for Detroit."
ArvinMeritor's Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business group posted $4.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2003, and employs 18,000 people at 65 facilities in 23 countries. LVS -- a market leader in the product categories it serves -- supplies integrated systems and modules to the world's leading passenger car and light truck OEMs. With advanced technology and systems design expertise in apertures, undercarriage, wheels and emissions control, LVS combines high-quality components into cost-effective, performance-based solutions for virtually every car and light truck on the road today.
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $8 billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related aftermarkets. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 32,000 people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 27 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/ .
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