A Slam Dunk

On Monday, the City Council and Staff celebrated the groundbreaking of the General Motors Co. supplier logistics center on the former Palace of Auburn Hills site.

When the Palace of Auburn Hills closed in 2017, we viewed it as a new opportunity to reinvent the 110-acre site. Schostak Brothers acquired the property, and we worked with their team to create a vision for its highest and best use.  General Motors’ redevelopment of this site is significant and represents a tremendous investment in our community.  This investment will create new jobs and is a testament to the strength of the automotive workforce and continues to build on Auburn Hills’ reputation as a “hub” of electric vehicle development and manufacturing. Piston Automotive will operate the 715,000-square-foot building along I-75. The facility will supply parts to the GM Orion assembly plant, which produces electric trucks.

This project is special in so many ways. The Detroit Pistons won three NBA Championships at this location. Piston Automotive will now occupy the space, a company founded by its chairman, former Detroit Pistons player Mr. Vinnie Johnson.  Auburn Hills may have lost one championship team, but we’re pleased to announce that another championship team, Piston Group, is about to move into the electric vehicle arena.  

Stephanie L. Carroll, Economic Development Manager