Magneti Marelli Holding USA has officially opened its new exhaust system manufacturing plant located in Independence Township, Michigan. Magneti Marelli is part of the Fiat Chrysler Group.

According to Magneti Marelli Holding USA, president and CEO Stephane Vedie. “With the addition of the exhaust plant, each of the company’s business lines is now represented in North America, providing and expanding footprint to serve our customers here and around the world.”

“For all its business areas, Magneti Marelli has a footprint that is fitting the key customers’ needs and enables a strategic positioning on the global automobile market,” said Eugenio Razelli, CEO of Magneti Marelli. “The exhaust business, with a very significant presence in Europe, South America and, since few years, also in China and India, is now adding an important presence also in the US”.

The new plant strengthens Magneti Marelli’s position in North America adding to its competencies that include automotive lighting, powertrain, electronic systems, suspension systems, aftermarket and motorsport.

The 100,000-plus square foot plant located in suburban Detroit is the first Michigan manufacturing facility for Magneti Marelli, whose North American headquarters is in nearby Auburn Hills. Employing 75 people, the plant manufactures hot end exhaust manifold integrated with catalytic converters and will reach a production capacity of about 300,000 units per year.

All manufacturing operations are performed on site, including forming of the canister in which catalyst materials are inserted, and robotic welding of the various components to create the finished product. The first important project is related to Fiat Chrysler platforms.

Founded in Italy in 1919 and headquartered near Milan, Magneti Marelli is a leader in component manufacturing electronics and the production of other technologically advanced automotive products. With its 85 production units, 12 R&D centres and 26 application centres in 19 countries, about 38,000 employees and a turnover of 6 billion euros in 2013, the group supplies all leading carmakers in Europe, North and South America and the Far East. Its business areas include: electronic systems, lighting; powertrain, suspension systems and shock absorbers, exhaust systems, aftermarket parts and services, plastic components and modules, motorsport.

Photograph: Magneti Marelli Exhaust develops and produces exhaust systems for motor vehicles using high quality, high performance technologies. Its product range includes systems for exhaust gas after-treatment (catalytic converters, particulate filter converters, SCR and NSC systems) and for engine noise attenuation.