Lear Corporation Breaks Ground on New Facility in Flint
October 02 2017 - 1:30PM
Business Wire
Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of
automotive seating and electrical systems, today broke ground on a
new seat manufacturing facility located on the former site of the
historic Buick City complex in Flint, Mich.
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Ray Scott, executive vice president of Lear Corporation and
president of Lear's seating business, was joined by Flint Mayor
Karen Weaver and Tom McMillen, executive director, Interiors &
Safety, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain at General Motors.
Jason Scott, global vice president for Lear’s GM seating group,
presented an informational overview including specific plans for
the Flint plant, and Gerald Kariem, Director of UAW Region 1D,
provided additional remarks.
Lear’s Flint seating plant will be the first major automotive
supplier manufacturing facility constructed in Flint in more than
30 years. Plans call for the 156,000-sq.ft. facility to begin
production of seats by April 2018. The world-class facility will
employ approximately 600 workers, when it reaches full production.
Thirty percent of the 33-plus acre site will be green space.
Lear chose the Buick City site for a number of reasons
including: its proximity to the homes of many of its workers, the
location of the GM plant, as well as the corporation’s objective to
give back to the communities in which it operates. The Flint area
has been hard hit in recent years, and Lear also wants to bring
manufacturing back to the area since many manufacturing jobs in
Flint have been lost over the past several decades.
Flint holds sentimental value for Ray Scott, who grew up in
Flint and worked while attending the University of
Michigan-Flint delivering parts just-in-time to General Motors.
“I have a lot of pride in Flint; it helped shape who I am
today,” he said. “We had options for other locations that we
considered, but what was important to us was that this was the
right thing to do from a community standpoint. To build a modern,
state of the art facility at that location is very symbolic and
historic.”
Lear worked with GM and the City of Flint while deciding on the
location for the new manufacturing facility. The Michigan Strategic
Fund board approved a $4.35-million Michigan Business Development
Program performance-based grant to support Lear’s $29.3-million
capital investment at the site, which includes the subassembly and
final assembly of automotive seats.
“We have a long relationship with Lear during its 100 years of
business,” said Mr. McMillen. “Lear has earned GM's coveted
Supplier of the Year designation 16 times and our partnership
continues as we both commit to this next phase for Flint. Our
next-generation vehicles to be produced in Flint are our newest
step in almost $3 billion we have invested in Flint since
2009."
“We are proud to partner with Lear on this exciting new
project,” said Mayor Weaver. “We are pleased to have established a
good relationship with a company that has demonstrated it supports
the communities where it does business. This project will provide
opportunities for Flint residents and an overall positive impact on
our local economy. Both Lear and the City of Flint are looking
positively to the future.”
About Lear Corporation
Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) was founded in Detroit in 1917 as
American Metal Products. In 2017, the Company will celebrate its
100th year anniversary. Lear is one of the world's leading
suppliers of automotive seating and electrical distribution
systems. Lear serves every major automaker in the world, and Lear
content can be found on more than 400 vehicle nameplates. Lear’s
world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a
diverse team of approximately 156,000 employees located in 38
countries. Lear currently ranks #151 on the Fortune 500. Lear's
headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Further information about
Lear is available at lear.com or follow us on Twitter
@LearCorporation.
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