Nexteer Automotive is a major supplier in the
automotive industry, specializing in the production of
electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steer-by-wire systems, steering columns, intermediate shafts, driveline systems, and software for original equipment manufacturers (
OEMs). The company operates 26
manufacturing plants, four technical and software centers. The company also haves 13 customer service centers across
North and South America,
Europe,
Asia, and
Africa. Its customer base includes over 60
OEMs, encompassing well-known brands such as
BMW,
Ford,
General Motors,
Toyota, and
Volkswagen, as well as domestic automakers in
India,
China, and
South America.
History
Nexteer's original predecessor was founded in 1906 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA under the name Jackson, Wilcox and Church. Their product was named the Jacox gear. In 1909, the unit was purchased by
Buick and then was transferred to parent company
General Motors as the Jackson, Church and Wilcox Division. The division was renamed Saginaw Product Company in 1919 and Saginaw Steering Gear Division in 1928. The trade name of Jacox was changed to Saginaw in 1930. In 1985, the name was changed from Saginaw Steering Gear Division to Saginaw Division. The Saginaw Division was later grouped with other GM component units into Automotive Components Group, before becoming
Delphi Automotive Systems in 1995.[5][6] In 1999, Delphi Automotive became an independent company. Saginaw Division was renamed Delphi Steering.[7]
Nexteer
With Delphi entering a lengthy bankruptcy proceeding, GM purchased Delphi Steering through their subsidiary, GM Global Steering Holdings LLC, in 2009 and renamed the company, Nexteer Automotive.[8] GM moved to have the union change their contract with Nexteer in order to prepare the company for a sale as Nexteer had multiple customers besides GM. After the first offered agreement, GM warned the employees that this may hamper finding a buyer; the results being that GM may just shut Nexteer down. A second agreement was ratified by the union.[7] The
Michigan Economic Growth Authority gave a $70.7 million state tax credit over ten years to Nexteer in November 2009. Nexteer announced that same month investment plans totaling $400 million across the board and keeping its headquarters in
Buena Vista Township. The Township responded with a 100 percent 20 year tax abatement.[9] Nexteer was acquired by
Pacific Century Motors on November 29, 2010.[1] After the purchase, Nexteer was split into two separate companies.
Nexteer originally was going to go public on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2013,[10] but the IPO was delayed until October 2013.[11]