The automobile was created in our backyard, establishing itself as our region’s gift to the modern world. Macomb County is the historic home to the tool and die industry: the builders of the machines and mechanisms that made the mass production of the automobile possible. The tool and die specialists were small shops – “mom and pop” operations – started by immigrants adapting their traditional skills to the needs of a new and burgeoning enterprise.

Macomb County is the historic home to the tool and die industry: the builders of the machines and mechanisms that made the mass production of the automobile possible.

Today, generations later, many of these same businesses remain. Some are still small family-owned and operated shops; others have grown to employ many times their original number of skilled workers. All have adopted the technologies and methods necessary to compete in the global economy.

GM Technical Center

The GM Technical Center, located in the Macomb County community of Warren, is home to General Motor’s North American engineering, research and design operations. The 330 acres, 25-building complex houses research labs, engineering offices and test facilities. Home to many of GM’s most important technical advances, the facility is an American icon of modern architecture and a model for corporate research and development parks.

The campus recently underwent a $1 billion redevelopment, in a strategic plan to consolidate its vehicle engineering functions into one facility. Long-term research and engineering projects are conducted at the facility, along with programs that would be uneconomical or beyond the resources of individual divisions. All styling and design of products is handled exclusively at the Technical Center.

The campus is today as it always has been: a living, working, creative environment that is core to the business of one of the world's largest corporations.

Dodge City - DaimlerChrysler

DaimlerChrysler’s Dodge City Complex is home to three high-tech facilities: The Warren Stamping Plant, Warren Truck Assembly and the Mound Road Engine Plant. Located along Mound Road in the community of Warren, these three facilities cover approximately 200 acres and have over 6.5 millions square feet of floor space. A total of 6,000 workers are employed at the three plants.

Sterling Heights Assembly Plant - DaimlerChrysler

This 3.0 million square foot - 286 acre facility employees 2,400 workers. Built in 1953 as a jet engine plant, it was converted to an automobile plant in 1980 by Volkswagen. Purchased by Chrysler in 1983, it now produces the Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring Sedan and convertible.