This past January, Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., (HATCI) announced plans to build a world-class Hot/Cold Weather Dynamometer Test facility at its Superior Township location. A $15 million investment will help construct the testing laboratory and upgrade the existing facility, located just south of Ann Arbor, Michigan in Washtenaw County.

 

Hyundai’s plans will have a significant, positive impact on Washtenaw County and beyond. Over the next three years, 50 full-time jobs will be added and the state of Michigan has committed to funding (subject to approval of the Michigan Strategic Fund) construction of a new electricity substation in Superior Township that will improve the power output to the property.

 

“This investment and promise of a Hot/Cold Weather Testing facility in Michigan reinforces [Hyundai’s] commitment to U.S. vehicle development and American jobs,” said Dr. Cho, President, HATCI. “Investing in our locations, products and people is critical…to compete with the best in the business.” The Hyundai America Technical Center Superior Township location opened in 2005 and currently has about 170 employees.

 

Hyundai is leading the way in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), and the new Hot/Cold Climate Weather facility will continue to ensure improvements in vehicle design and technology. Engineers will perform the EPA SC03 Supplemental Federal Test Procedure (SFTP) with air conditioning and the cold Federal Test Procedure (FTP). Since the SC03 test is conducted at 95 degrees F and the cold FTP test is conducted at 20 degrees F, the new HATCI facility will be able to reach temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to more than 245 degrees F. Vehicles must also sit (soak) for a period of time at the controlled ambient temperature before dynamometer emissions testing can be performed; new weather chambers will allow for this step as well.

 

The automaker has been working closely with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Superior Township. They’ve also teamed up with Ann Arbor SPARK, a group dedicated to establishing the Ann Arbor region as a desired place for business expansion.

 

“Hyundai’s investment and growing presence here demonstrates Michigan’s singular leadership in industrial engineering, research, design and technological innovation,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “I was pleased to meet with the Hyundai’s most senior leadership in Korea and celebrate today’s announcement as an endorsement of all that our state can offer for a world-class company.”