Laepple Automotive, the U.S. division of the German auto parts manufacturer LÄPPLE AUTOMOTIVE, is set to establish its new headquarters and main operations in Detroit. This initiative is expected to create up to 173 jobs and involve a capital investment of approximately $93.4 million, enhancing the company’s footprint in Michigan and contributing to the state’s thriving automotive sector.
The company specializes in manufacturing stamped body parts for vehicles, including hoods, fenders, doors, and trunk lids, with the capability to produce components for any original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
The new operations will be situated at the Mount Elliott Tool and Die facility, a historic site with over 80 years of automotive manufacturing heritage. Currently vacant, this facility will undergo significant renovations to accommodate state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing equipment.
Funding for the project comes from a $3.5 million grant through the Michigan Business Development Program, along with the approval of a five-year, 100% State Essential Services Assessment (SESA) exemption, valued at approximately $653,760 for the company’s eligible investment of $78.85 million in personal property.
“Laepple Automotive is internationally acclaimed for its innovations in sheet metal forming and car body assembly,” stated Maureen Donohue Krauss, CEO and president of the Detroit Regional Partnership. “Their efforts to revitalize older industrial facilities in Germany, which we had the privilege to tour recently, inspire us, and we look forward to their transformative impact on the former Mt. Elliott facility in Detroit.”
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