Whitmer Announces 450 New Jobs for Michigan During Germany Visit

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a 31.7 million dollar investment expected to create 450 new jobs in Michigan following meetings with defense industry leaders during a visit to Germany. The project includes a new consolidated headquarters in Auburn Hills and expanded operations at several existing Michigan facilities, with hiring expected to take place over time rather than immediately.

The announcement was made while Whitmer toured overseas facilities and promoted Michigan as a hub for defense manufacturing, engineering, and research and development. State officials highlighted Michigan’s industrial base and workforce as key selling points during the visit.

The investment will support expanded engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing work tied to U.S. defense programs, including next generation military vehicle development. Michigan was selected over eight other states, with workforce availability and existing industrial capacity cited as primary factors in the decision.

A new headquarters facility is planned for Auburn Hills to consolidate current operations, while additional production growth is expected at sites in Plymouth, Lapeer, and Lansing. Company statements confirm the total job count but do not include a public hiring schedule. Based on similar defense manufacturing expansions, the jobs are likely to be phased in over roughly one to three years as facilities are completed and contracts advance.

Credit for the project rests primarily with the company making the capital investment and committing to the jobs, while the State of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation played a supporting role through site selection assistance and workforce coordination.

The investment amount and job total are confirmed, but specific wage levels, exact job start dates, and the timing of related federal contract awards have not yet been made public.

How long should Michigan residents wait before these 450 jobs actually start showing up in payrolls?