BorgWarner Expands Powertrain Tech Center

AUBURN HILLS, MI – BorgWarner is literally turbocharging economic growth in suburban Detroit.

That’s because the auto supplier actually makes turbochargers (as well as numerous other engine, transmission and driveline systems) and is creating jobs. It just christened a nearly 46,000-sq.-ft. (4,274-sq.-m) addition to its powertrain technical center in Auburn Hills, MI, that will support an additional 180 employees.

The new jobs include program managers, sales people and engineers, which the company emphasizes are high-paying full-time jobs.

BorgWarner is the latest in a long list of suppliers to expand in the Detroit area to keep up with the resurgent U.S. auto industry, which is logging near-record sales. The company’s products are aimed at improving fuel economy, emissions and performance, and its goal is to grow annual global sales from $8.3 billion to $15 billion by 2020.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson welcomes the expansion, pointing out that county employment has recovered after losing 60,000 jobs in 2009 when both Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy.

BorgWarner has 22,000 employees in 18 countries. Since the 2000s it has focused on turbochargers for downsized engines and dual-clutch transmissions that improve vehicle performance and help automakers meet increasing fuel-economy and emissions standards.

It also now is active in exhaust gas recirculation systems, electronically controlled thermal systems, advanced variable cam timing technology and torque management systems.

Vice President and Chief Technology officer Christopher Thomas says the company now is bolstering its electrification capabilities to complement its activities related to internal combustion engines.

BorgWarner already has developed an electrically powered turbocharger, and the company also is in the process of buying Remy International for $950 million. Remy makes alternators, stop/start systems and electric traction motors.

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