Italdesign, the company founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro and now controlled by the Volkswagen group, with headquarters in Moncalieri (Turin), has chosen the Municipality of Bloomfield in Michigan, near Detroit, as the headquarters for its new division in the United States. Italdesign's growth will result in over $20 million in investments in the local economy and a large employment push in Michigan. As part of its commitment to superior automotive design and engineering, the business picked Michigan over Ohio and California. "In the United States we have always had a solid customer base", says Antonio Casu, Italdesign's CEO, "but in recent times our American partners have shown a growing interest in strengthening their collaboration with us". The choice of Michigan as the base for Italdesign's U.S. operations was a natural consequence. "There is a fundamental similarity with Piedmont, a region that hosts both major industry-leading companies and top-tier suppliers (the so-called Tier One). It is a place characterized by a strong concentration of local expertise", says Casu. Leading Italdesign USA is Fabrizio Mina, a graduate of Turin Polytechnic with extensive experience in the United States. Before joining Italdesign, Mina worked at Comau North America and Expert Technologies Group North America.