The City of Ann Arbor in Michigan houses to a lot of establishments and that include the technical center of Mercedes-Benz’ called the Research Park Drive. Last week, the planning department for review received a good number of projects and among this is from the German car company’s plan of expansion of the said facility.

As a way to further strengthen its global presence, automakers make sure to have research centers as well as manufacturing plants in different countries. The German automaker Mercedes-Benz for one is all set to develop its Michigan-based technical center Research Park Drive according to the company’s Research and Development North America Inc.

Located in Ann Arbor City, Mercedes-Benz’ 20, 821-square-foot Research Park Drive is slated to have three more buildings soon. A 6, 663-square-foot space building will be added in the company’s facility. The expansion will also house the testing centers for its popular micro car Smart ForTwo Cars, which started its initial retail this February. Completing the expansion is the auto emissions lab that is undergoing its renovation. This lab is allocated for more office space as well as function as a storage area for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The additional facilities, which cost $5 million, will help carry out Mercedes-Benz’ plans of developing a line especially for the U.S. market. According to the company, four of its product engineers from Germany will head on to this new facility when finished to carry out the plan.

The Ann Arbor-based Mercedes-Benz Research Park Drive is among the two facilities of the company. Another research and development center is in Long Beach, California.

Source: Mlive.

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