Auto manufacturing venture expected to bring 500 jobs to Detroit

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Faurecia is expanding its operations in the metro area, and is also announcing a new joint venture that will create 500 manufacturing jobs in the city of Detroit.

The new venture will be called Detroit Manufacturing Systems and its first customer will be Ford Motor Company.

Tony Brown of Ford's Global Purchasing unit says, “Ford also is proud to play a role in helping to revitalize Detroit at this critical time for the city."

As part of the deal, Ford is selling its Automotive Components Holdings plant in Saline to the French supplier Faurecia.

The sale is good news for Ford which has been trying to sell off its ACH plants, but it is also great news for the city of Detroit. 

The joint venture will be between Faurecia and Rush Group. Ford will still have two ACH plants, a climate control facility on Sheldon Road in Plymouth, and a lighting business in Sandusky, Ohio. The ACH plants are the old Visteon facilities that Ford has been trying to sell for the last seven years.

Detroit Manufacturing Systems is a Native American Women Owned Business Enterprise, which is run by 

“Detroit Manufacturing Systems is a natural result of our experience in the automotive industry and having the relationships and alignment among our customers, the City of Detroit, Faurecia, the United Auto Workers and other partners to develop sustainable businesses that create opportunity in underserved communities," said Andra Rush.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have found a partner in Faurecia and our customer Ford Motor Company who are committed to the mission of collaborating and developing ‘win-win-win’ business models that lead to innovation and long-term successful relationships. This in turn, helps create sustainable businesses that can create true economic development in the City of Detroit and other communities across North America.”