"This capital investment will significantly improve on our local ability to develop products, such as fuel pump modules, that meet the unique and specific North American customer and regulatory performance requirements," says Siemens VDO Automotive North American Fuel Supply System division leader Hugo Ritzenthaler.

Siemens VDO is one of more than a dozen auto-related companies to announce plans or open a testing or development center in the Detroit area in the past year. The new laboratory will house a variety of highly specialized testing equipment compatible with various fuels, according to Siemens.

Siemens VDO Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive electronic/electrical systems and components with applications covering gasoline and diesel powertrain technologies, safety and chassis systems, body electronics, plus interior products including infotainment systems. Its fuel supply systems division, which will use the new lab, controls about 25% of the global market share of fuel delivery modules.