Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins ATESTEO in their ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Lansing Region now boasts a 35,000-sq. ft. automobile drivetrain testing facility with a focus on electric and hybrid drives—a key piece in propelling the next generation of automative innovation regionally, nationally, and globally.  

On June 6, 2024, LEAP joined key partners and community leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the ATESTEO facility in East Lansing, Michigan, the company’s first on North American soil and the single largest investment in its history. With a budget of $27 million, it’s also the largest foreign direct investment in East Lansing’s history. 

The German-based company is a leading specialist in drivetrain testing for the automotive industry globally, providing comprehensive testing services with advanced technology and experienced staff. ATESTEO tests from the lab to the roadway to ensure consistent, effective solutions and improvements to automotive technology, including: endurance testing, efficiency testing on test benches, functional testing, environmental simulation, e-mobility testing, NVH testing, and vehicle testing/road tests. 

With more than 870 employees across 200 locations spanning three continents, ATESTEO’s decision to launch its expansion into the North American market here in the Tri-County area signals its confidence in our collective ability to leverage our automotive manufacturing experience into leading EV mobility for generations to come. 

Held inside the facility itself, the event featured a speaker lineup that included President of ATESTEO North America Inc Roy Schulde, CEO/COO of ATESTEO Tim Willers, ATESTEO Executive Shareholder Georg Schaeffler, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  

LEAP staff with the ATESTEO group.

Each speaker highlighted the impact that ATESTEO’s presence in the area will have on the local economy and its global ripple effect.  

“The new testing site strengthens our city of East Lansing in the innovative, auto-tradition-rich region of Central Michigan,” said President Roy Schulde. “New jobs will be created. Meaningful partnerships have been initiated. Great collaborations are developing. We are already working with valuable local partners. The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) has been at our side since our foundation and is a strong partner for the entire region to drive economic growth.”  

LEAP worked tirelessly for years to support ATESTEO leadership in selecting the East Lansing location as their new homebase for North American operations. Collaborating with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the City of East Lansing, Lansing Community College, Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!), developer Gentilozzi Real Estate, and Lake Trust Credit Union, LEAP spearheaded an attractive package of funding, incentives, site selection support, and more to ensure a smooth process to locate this key business here in our community. 

LEAP is proud to partner with an organization with a dual commitment to accelerating the mobility future of our world while also investing in the economic advancement of the Lansing Region as we strive to become the EV capital of North America.  

The ribbon cutting was followed by a facility tour, where guests got a behind-the-scenes view of the engineering and data-driven work that goes into every single car on the road.  

 Learn more about LEAP’s work in mobility and autonomous technology at PureLansing.com/Mobility.