SAPA Transmission, a Spanish company that makes transmissions for military tracked and wheeled vehicles and a supplier to the U.S. Army, has announced the initial construction of its U.S. production plant and headquarters in Shelby Township has been completed. The plant is expected to add 223 jobs to the region, including engineering positions.
The company currently leases a 48,000-square-foot facility in Shelby Township and plans to move to the new facility in the spring.
The facility is part of a $40.1-million investment the company is making in the state. SAPA will spend the next year outfitting the 110,000-square-foot facility, which will be used to research, develop, and manufacture combat vehicle transmissions.
“SAPA Transmission is teamed with Michigan for the long haul,” says Deniz Balta, vice president. “Our investment in the state underscores our commitment to the U.S. Army and to the U.S. defense industrial base.”
The company selected the site for the region’s workforce and its proximity to the U.S. Army’s Center for Engineering and Development of Automotive Tank Investigation as well as major customers such as BAE Systems and General Dynamics.
“With our state’s essential role in the commercial automotive industry and in sustaining and developing Army ground combat vehicles, SAPA’s decision to locate their manufacturing plant in the 10th congressional district is a natural choice,” says Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Mich. “I applaud their efforts to grow the presence of the defense industry in Michigan and support our soldiers with the best equipment for the job.”
