Sunlogics to Employ 200 to Build Chevy Volt Charging Stations in Rochester Hills
New business will be in operation by end of year.
The "Green Zone" will use solar energy to charge a Chevrolet Volt. The charging stations will be built at the new Rochester Hills facility.
On a morning without sun in Rochester Hills, solar was all the talk inside a vacant building off Adams Road that will be the site of the city's newest green company — and of at least 200 jobs.
Sunlogics, with help of a $7.5 million investment by General Motors Ventures, will invest $30 million in opening a corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Rochester Hills, officials announced Thursday morning. The company, formed one year ago, makes solar-powered canopies designed to charge the Chevrolet Volt. The canopies will be installed at 3,000 dealerships
Called "Green Zones," the canopies can be designed to charge up to 12 Volts at once; one is being installed at the Volt production facility in Hamtramck.
"We are committed to leading in the area of solar use," said Jon Lauckner, GM Ventures president.
GM Ventures is a subsidiary of General Motors Co. When it launched last year, one of its goals was a commitment to solar projects like the one being championed by Sunlogics, Lauckner said.
Along with its investment in Sunlogics, GM also announced Thursday a commitment to double its solar output by 2015. Today the company employs 30 megawatts of solar power at its facilities worldwide.
Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett welcomed Sunlogics to the city, praising its occupation of a 140,000-square-foot building, once owned by Dana Corp., which has sat mostly vacant for years.
"They are the new and perfect partner for Rochester Hills, Oakland County and the state of Michigan," Barnett said. "We as a city couldn't ask for better."
The company considered competing sites in Ohio and Illinois before deciding on Rochester Hills.
"This area has an enormous amount of highly skilled, intelligent workers who are experienced in engineering and in design," said Michael Matvieshan, Sunlogic's CEO.
Matvieshan confirmed the creation of 200 jobs at the Rochester Hills facility, which he said would be in operation by the end of the year. But he also hinted at the possibility of growth beyond that.
"We like to under-promise and over-deliver," Matvieshan said. "There should be room for more jobs."
Matvieshan lives in Ontario, where Sunlogic will set up a second manufacturing facility sometime this year. He admitted he has not yet been able to test drive a Volt — but intended to after the press conference.
Two Volts were available for test-driving during the Thursday event, which was attended by more than 100 people, including city and county leaders and GM officials.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson joined Barnett in welcoming the company to the area. He thanked the members of the county's "Emerging Sectors" economic development group, which he said he tasked eight years ago with bringing new companies to the county.
"I told them to find me growth in Oakland County," Patterson said. "This is a company that will grow and prosper."
To read more about Sunlogics, visit sunlogics.com. Company officials said specifics on available jobs and where to apply would be announced soon
AI
