Gov. Whitmer Announces Global Drivetrain Testing Provider ATESTEO Establishing Headquarters in East Lansing, Creating 46 High-Wage Jobs

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) to announce that ATESTEO North America, a global provider of testing services for EV drivetrains and components, is establishing its North American headquarters in East Lansing with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. This investment is expected to create up to 46 well-paying jobs and add $27.8 million to the state's economy.

“Today's investment by ATESTEO will build on Michigan’s advanced manufacturing strengths and create dozens of good-paying, high-skill jobs for Michiganders in mid-Michigan. It will empower us to continue growing our economy and securing a strong future for our working families,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “ATESTEO’s facility reinforces our reputation as a leader in the future of mobility and electrification and underscores the strength of our talented workforce. Since I took office, Michigan has added 21,600 auto jobs, many build electric vehicles and batteries. Thanks to our effective fiscal management, hardworking people, and innovative businesses, Michigan’s economy is growing with low unemployment, rising wages, and strong small businesses growth. Michigan’s future is bright, and investments like today’s by ATESTEO will help us continue moving our state forward.”

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $27.8 million and create up to 46 well-paying jobs with the support of a $400,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. Michigan was chosen for the project over competing sites in Ohio and South Carolina.

ATESTEO North America is a subsidiary of ATESTEO Group, a Germany-based testing services provider for automotive drivetrains. The company began serving the e-mobility industry in 2008 and provides testing services for hybrid and fully electrified auto drivetrains and components. ATESTEO North America was established in 2022 to better serve existing and future customers in the U.S.

ATESTEO plans to establish its North American headquarters in an existing building in East Lansing, where it will install test benches to test drivetrain systems and components. This facility will be the company’s first location in the U.S. With the assistance of LEAP, the company chose the East Lansing location because of its proximity to future automotive customers, the promising partnerships with Lansing Community College and Michigan State University, and the region’s storied automotive spirit.

“We are extremely excited to soon be part of East Lansing, Michigan! With drivetrain testing at an early point in time, we support automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers to develop new, modern drive systems. We have consistently expanded our international operations in recent years to be on site wherever transmission development takes place. The strong automotive industry in the USA and the increased focus on electric and hybrid drive systems make it very sensible for us to have our own testing location in the United States. By establishing our North American headquarters, we are close to the automakers and automotive suppliers in Michigan and the United States,” said ATESTEO CEO Tim Willers. “They can test their drivetrains on our test benches right here in East Lansing. We thank the city of East Lansing for their openness and for the opportunity to locate our company in Lansing. We look forward to a bright future together in this beautiful innovative region with a long automotive tradition.”

The project will further boost Michigan‘s efforts to position itself as the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. In addition, the project will bring immediate high-wage jobs, primarily engineering and technical positions, to the region and could lead to future investment in the state.

“Congratulations to the team at ATESTEO on your growth and success. We are excited to welcome you to Michigan, and appreciate this vote of confidence in our talented workforce and leadership position in electric vehicle manufacturing,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “We are grateful to the Governor, legislators and local officials for their continued support of the Michigan Business Development Program. We’re pleased to work with local partners like LEAP and the city of East Lansing to bring these high-wage jobs to mid-Michigan, and we look forward to welcoming more companies like ATESTEO to Michigan.”

The city of East Lansing has offered to support the project with approval of a 50-percent Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption and a new Personal Property Tax Exemption.

“ATESTEO represents the type of company that is aligned with our strategic priorities for business attraction,” said East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon. “We are impressed by their technological advancement and ability to connect with the right people at MSU to create local opportunities for students and others to join the innovation economy that is continuing to grow here in East Lansing.”

To further help attract ATESTEO to East Lansing, LEAP also facilitated support from key workforce development partners at Capital Area Michigan Works!, MSU and LCC to assist with hiring and training needs. Individuals interested in careers with ATESTEO should visit https://www.atesteo.com/en/career/.

“ATESTEO is a perfect match for the Lansing Region and Michigan given our globally leading electrification and mobility industry opportunities,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “Foreign direct investment is a crucial economic development win that supports industry innovation and growth. Thanks to the critical partnership of the MEDC, East Lansing and other partners who worked side-by-side to set the stage for ATESTEO’s US launch!”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.