Dana plans $9 million EV tech center, 150 jobs in Novi

Driveshaft supplier Dana Inc. is aiming to open a $9 million electric vehicle tech center in suburban Detroit, where it plans to add up to 150 engineers and supporting positions.

The Maumee, Ohio-based manufacturer plans to upfit and customize new space in Novi, Mich., according to a brief from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The tech center is expected to be around 50,000 square feet, but the exact location has not yet been decided.

In exchange for the promise of creating up to 150 jobs "with wages well above" the average in Oakland County, the MEDC approved Tuesday a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant. The city of Novi is also offering a tax abatement.

The incentives swayed Dana to build out the EV center in Michigan as opposed to competing sites in other states, the MEDC said.

"The Company is attracted to locating this facility in Novi due to the synergy and ease of collaboration with the corporate facilities nearby," the brief said. "Incentive assistance is necessary to offset the additional costs with opening a new technology center."

Crain's Detroit Business, an affiliate of Automotive News, reached out to Dana for more information about the project.