Magna International to open facility, invest $70.1M in St. Clair

A division of Magna International plans to open a facility in the city of St. Clair to build battery enclosures for the 2022 GMC Hummer electric pickup, which will be produced at General Motors’ Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck, according to the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The $70.1 million investment is expected to create 304 jobs, and was approved Tuesday for a $1.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant, which is based on job creation targets, according to a briefing memo.

Magna, the largest auto supplier in North America and the No. 3 supplier globally, is planning to build a 345,000-square-foot facility at 1811 Range Road that can be expanded to 1 million square feet. 

The Port Huron Times Herald said construction began at the site in December and production could begin next year. Magna is a Canadian company with its main U.S. office in Troy.

Whitmer cheered the news in a press release:

“This announcement reaffirms Michigan is transforming along with the automotive industry to ensure the next generation of mobility and electrification is designed, developed, tested, and built right here in our state.” 

The wages for the new positions are to range from $17 per hour up to $48, with an average of $27, according to the memo.

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The grant that was approved will “offset cost related to training, recruiting and construction that are higher in Michigan compared to competing locations,” the memo said, noting that Michigan, with 35 facilities, is the state with Magna’s largest U.S. footprint.

In addition to that support, “the City of St. Clair anticipates approval of a real property tax abatement in support of the project. The (Michigan Economic Development Corp.) also authorized a State Education Tax abatement to be used in conjunction with the locally approved abatement. St. Clair County Community College is also offering support of the project through the Michigan New Jobs Training Program,” the memo said.