Illinois-based Flex-N-Gate announced today it will invest $95 million in construction and capital costs for a facility that will supply parts to Ford Motor Company. Potential additional investment in the project could push the project to at least $100 million, and at least 400 and up to 650 new jobs will be created in Detroit over the next three years; at full capacity, up to 750 total jobs could be added.
Flex-N-Gate, is a top global auto supplier of exterior trim components, aluminum and steel modular stamped body in white and chassis assemblies, lighting and other OEM automotive products.
"Our news today from Detroit is further evidence that the United States auto industry is strong, promising and experiencing exceptional growth," said Flex-N-Gate owner Shahid Khan. "Building a new plant from the ground up within the Detroit city limits will be a milestone moment for Flex-N-Gate, made possible thanks to our partnership and collaboration with Ford, the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan.”
From 2009 through the second quarter of 2015, automakers and auto suppliers have made $16 billion investments into Michigan, accounting for about 20 percent of auto-industry investment in North America. Since 2009 through the end of last year, 175,000 manufacturing jobs have been created in Michigan, according to the Center for Automotive Research.