Yanfeng Automotive Interiors to open offices in Novi

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, a China-based company, aims to open offices in Novi — consolidating workers from two other communities and bringing back to life a long-vacant building off of 12 Mile that was used by the Detroit Medical Center.

The move also adds  another global auto supplier in Novi and is expected to create 60 jobs over the next few years.

Yanfeng, which makes instrument panels, seats, door panels and consoles, also announced today  that it expects to invest about $8.45 million in renovations to the building and move about 280 employees from offices in Plymouth and Harrison Township to the new location.

Related:

Daifuku moving to Novi, building new headquarters

Harman moving auto HQ to Novi, add 250 workers

Novi was a midpoint between the two communities, with access to freeways, Debra Ortisi, a company spokeswoman, said.

“We are extremely excited to have Yanfeng Automotive Interiors join a robust group of international businesses which see the value in investing in Novi,” said Mayor Bob Gatt. “We are proud of our reputation as an open and inclusive city where businesses thrive, and we look forward to helping Yanfeng Automotive Interiors prosper for many years to come.”

To entice Yanfeng to make the move, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. awarded the company a $600,000 state business development program grant. In addition, the city is expected to consider offering tax abatement.

Other suppliers that have opened offices in Novi include Magna Seating, Harman International and Daifuku.

Yanfeng, headquartered in Shanghai, China, has about 100 manufacturing plants and technical centers in 18 countries and more than 30,000 employees globally. It is a joint venture between Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems and Adient, an automotive seating supplier that is moving its headquarters to Detroit.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com