BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP -- Jobs at Nexteer Automotive in Buena Vista Township will remain local despite the recent sale of the company to China-based owner, Pacific Century Motors.
The new owner says they’re committed to keeping the company's headquarters in Saginaw County.
The president of Nexteer Automotive invited NBC25 to take a tour of the plant Thursday.
Business was going on as usual, but the president says the future for the steering parts company looks brighter and is now more secure.
The long road of transition has finally ended for Nexteer Automotive in Buena Vista Township.
"We finally captured the owner that we are looking for," said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
Just two weeks ago, China-based company Pacific Century Motors bought the steering parts plant from GM.
"This is an investor that is interested in this business and to create a global leader in steering and driveline," said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
Currently, the company employs about three thousand people in Saginaw County. That number is expected to grow.
"We have a great cost structure, a great team, a passionate organization, a passionate workforce, we just see more opportunity," said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
But some UAW Local 699 workers have raised concerns about being led by a company across the ocean. But the president of Nexteer says it means more opportunity.
"To be a global leader in any automotive commodity, you have to be global, you can not be regional," said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
The president of Nexteer wants to calm any employees’ fears with the promise that the plant will remain in Saginaw County.
"We have to develop the product here, we have to design it, engineer it, we have to validate it,” said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
One product driving big demand is Nexteer's electric power steering.
"It’s green, it's energy efficient, it's reducing our emissions, and that's really what's driving our growth," said Bob Remenar, Nexteer Automotive’s President.
Growth that Nexteer hopes will continue to make them an economic powerhouse for Mid-Michigan.
Nexteer, a company worth two billion dollars has a presence on every continent, supplying numerous automotive companies, including GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota with steering and driveline systems.
The sale is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
