ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Toyota Motor is proposing to increase the size of its Michigan research and development facility, the Detroit News reported Tuesday.
The Japanese automaker, which already has its main North American technical center in Ann Arbor, Monday submitted a $9 million bid to buy a 690-acre state-owned site in nearby York Township to build up its local vehicle development operations.
"It's a real plum for this region," said David Cole, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. "With a major R&D center, you could be talking about several thousand jobs easily -- and these would be high-wage jobs."
A decision on the land sale is expected by the end of the month.
York Township's supervisor said Toyota's total investment in the land purchase and subsequent construction would create as many as 2,000 jobs.
