Automotive leather supplier Eagle Ottawa LLCannounced Tuesday a $10 million expansion to its Rochester Hills tech center.
The project includes a 16,500-square-foot expansion of its facility at 2930 W. Auburn Road. The expansion includes workspace for 50 new employees, new prototyping and validation capabilities and new space for its customers, the Auburn Hills-based company said in a news release.
Eagle Ottawa, the largest leather supplier for auto seats in the world, has spent more than $75 million since 2011 on design, R&D and marketing.
The latest investment comes after Southfield-based Lear Corp. said in August that it planned to buy the company for $850 million. Lear expects to close on the deal, which will be funded through a combination of cash on hand and debt assumption, in the first quarter of 2015.
“This combined expertise will ultimately bring better products to address growing market demands as consumers continue to expect higher quality and styling distinction in premium and luxury interiors,” CEO Jerry Sumpter said in a statement.
Eagle Ottawa expects to generate nearly $1 billion in revenue in 2014, up from $485 million in 2011.
