Harman Breaks Ground on North American Automotive Headquarters in Novi

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Harman International Industries broke ground Thursday on its new North American automotive headquarters in Novi. When completed in fall 2015, the 188,000-square-foot building will initially accommodate 750 employees, with an additional 250 to be added in future years.

“Metro Detroit is the epicenter of the automotive industry,” says Dinesh Paliwal, chairman, president, and CEO of the infotainment and audio products supplier. “This strength, combined with the exceptional technical talent in southeast Michigan, made Novi a compelling destination for Harman’s new North American automotive headquarters.”

Anchoring the 400-acre Haggerty Corridor Corporate Park, the building on Cabot Drive will include engineering labs; an anechoic chamber for the accurate designing and testing of speakers; a full-scale pilot factory; and vehicle bays for integration testing.

Other offerings will include development areas focused on future connectivity solutions, including telematics, over-the-air update services, and vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

“The consumer appetite for a connected car experience continues to grow, and Harman is leading the industry in solutions that bridge Silicon Valley and Detroit,” Paliwal says. “This new Michigan facility reflects our corporate strategy to continue developing infotainment and audio systems for global markets through superior engineering, award-winning design, and high-value software systems.”

Harman’s client base includes Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen.