Auburn Hills is the site of JVIS’s new defense and aerospace facility, marking the auto-parts supplier’s move into defense work. The facility opened October 27. JVIS has a $13.2 million U.S. Army contract and says its expansion could add more than 1,000 jobs across Macomb and Oakland counties.
At 1020 Doris Road, the facility is intended to support defense programs as they move toward production, according to MLive. JVIS Defense & Aerospace is a standalone business within the larger JVIS group, focused on defense programs. Its first project is the Silent Watch auxiliary power unit. The device converts diesel into electric power to run military systems without relying solely on diesel generators. It uses standard military fuel and fuel-cell technology to provide quiet, low-signature power for vehicles with growing energy demands, according to Breaking Defense.
First Contract Comes From the Army's Ground Vehicle Systems Center
JVIS landed its first military contract with the U.S. Army's Ground Vehicle Systems Center, which is based in nearby Warren, Michigan. The Breaking Defense report put the deal's value at $13.2 million, JVIS's first win as a defense contractor. Alan Wagner, managing director of JVIS Defense & Aerospace, framed the moment as a homecoming for the state's industrial base, telling the outlet that the company intends to rebuild Michigan's defense manufacturing capacity: “we intend to build it again. Today is about bringing defense work, and the good-paying jobs that come with it, back to Michigan.”
Wagner also told Breaking Defense that JVIS aims to draw on the state’s existing engineering and manufacturing expertise. JVIS President Jason Murar described the Auburn Hills center as the first phase of a broader expansion, with further steps expected in the coming months and over the next year. The company plans to hire for engineering, manufacturing and technical roles as it grows its manufacturing capacity for the technologies in development.
The Army center and local workforce pathways
The Army’s DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren conducts research and development on advanced ground-systems technology. According to DEVCOM, more than 1,000 researchers and engineers there develop and maintain vehicles for the U.S. Armed Forces, federal agencies and more than 60 foreign countries; that is the center’s workforce, not a JVIS hiring figure. For people interested in manufacturing roles, Oakland Community College offers an in-person skilled trades and advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship at its Auburn Hills campus, preparing participants for registered apprenticeships or entry-level jobs. Macomb Community College says its M-TEC provides customized training in a 40,600-square-foot manufacturing facility and supports automotive, defense and aerospace companies and suppliers.
Bipartisan Backing From Michigan's Congressional Delegation
The launch drew bipartisan support from Michigan's congressional delegation. Republican Rep. Lisa McClain said the state's manufacturing expertise matches what the military needs, adding that she supports strengthening national defense, bringing good-paying jobs to Michigan, and involving manufacturers in technologies that protect warfighters. A press release from McClain's congressional office described the Auburn Hills expansion as expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in Michigan, though that figure remains a projection rather than a confirmed hiring count.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters connected the initiative to Michigan's manufacturing legacy from World War II, when the state became known as the Arsenal of Democracy because of its advanced, high-precision manufacturing starting in 1939. Peters said the state's workforce, manufacturing expertise and defense sector can keep Michigan at the forefront of American defense innovation.
Part of a Broader Push to Rebuild Michigan's Defense Base
JVIS is part of a broader effort to connect Michigan’s commercial manufacturing base with defense work. Breaking Defense has reported that companies including Ford, General Motors and Roush have also expanded into the sector. Michigan’s Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation has published a five-year strategy to draw on automotive and other commercial industries for military projects, including work in drones, space manufacturing and other emerging technology areas.
That strategy is backed by numbers suggesting the sector has room to grow. Michigan has more than 4,000 defense-aligned companies and over 900 aerospace suppliers, per a white paper from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The same report found that 98% of surveyed respondents were actively preparing for supply-chain localization or reshoring as of December 2025, and that 73% identified advanced manufacturing as a strategic asset for improving competitiveness.
JVIS is not the only company making this bet on Auburn Hills. AirBoss Defense Group announced plans in September to create 78 jobs over five years at a new center for advanced protection technologies in the same city, a project that drew a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, according to a separate MLive report. AirBoss reportedly considered keeping operations in Maryland before choosing Auburn Hills for its advanced manufacturing capabilities and established industrial ecosystem — another sign that Oakland County is becoming a magnet for defense investment.
