International Nameplates Establish Presence in Detroit

Washington DC September 29, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that International nameplate autos have moved into the Detroit-to-Ann Arbor corridor in search of the abundance of engineering and design talent around the area, reports The Associated Press.

Asian cars and trucks developed and designed in the Detroit area include Toyota's Camry, Sienna minivan, and Avalon sedan; Nissan's Titan, Altima, and Versa; and soon vehicles from Hyundai and Kia.

Toyota's technical center in Ann Arbor employs almost 700 people and the automaker is building a second facility nearby with room to grow.

Hyundai-Kia opened its tech center in Ann Arbor last year and has about 300 designers and engineers working on vehicles to be built at plants in Alabama and Georgia.

Nissan already has 1,200 workers, mostly engineers and designers, in nearby Farmington Hills.