Yanfeng to invest in new HQ, tech center near Detroit

DETROIT -- Yanfeng Automotive Interiors plans to invest $8.45 million in a new technical center and headquarters, which the supplier is moving to Novi, Mich., a Detroit suburb.

The Chinese supplier’s current headquarters is in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth. Yanfeng intends to combine former Johnson Controls Inc. interiors employees in Plymouth with corporate employees from Yanfeng’s Harrison Township, Mich., location. The new building, a former medical office that will be renovated, will hold both the technical center and headquarters.

The plans were made public Wednesday through news of Yanfeng’s receipt of a $600,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for the supplier’s recent investment in the state.

JCI’s 30 percent stake in Yanfeng now belongs to JCI’s other spinoff, seat supplier Adient. Yanfeng spokeswoman Debbie Ortisi said the move to consolidate employees into one location is a “continued part of our integration” after the change.

“We’re one company now,” Ortisi told Automotive News. “We want to have a more collaborative environment and this new environment will enable that.”

The technical center will oversee instrument panel engineering and testing, though Ortisi says it’s still too early to divulge specific technological updates. She said the investment will “enhance” and “increase” capabilities for the supplier.

Employees are expected to move to the new building later this year. The supplier will bring about 280 employees to the office and create 60 additional jobs.

Yanfeng’s manufacturing plant in Harrison Township will remain open. It supplies interior components.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is an arm of Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co. headquartered in Shanghai, China. Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems ranked No. 18 on Automotive News’ list of top global suppliers, with worldwide sales to automakers of $11 billion in 2015.