LOWELL — Autoliv, a Swedish-based automotive-safety system provider, said it is cutting nearly half its workforce at its facility in the former M/A-Com plant at 1001 Pawtucket Boulevard.
Autoliv spokesman Henrik Kaar said in an emailed statement that the company announced earlier this year that production of its radar sensors would move to a facility in Markham, Ontario. Radar sensors are used in cars’ collision-warning systems and in blind-spot detection systems.
Thus, the company is cutting 93 of its approximately 200 jobs in Lowell and transferring the work to Canada.
Kaar said the transfer is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
“Lower production overhead costs, more efficient transport times and elimination of circuit-assembly shipment costs were key factors in the decision to consolidate the North American production of electronics to Markham,” Kaar said.
He said Lowell’s engineering staff will continue to be “a key corporate technology center to design radar systems for the automotive market.” Applications includes night vision and sensors that can detect traffic when backing out of a parking space.
Kaar said the Canadian facility provides added capacity that will enable Autolive to “continue to meet the production targets of its customers.”
He said the company has agreed to work with the local communities and government officials in Lowell and Markham to support employees “in the best possible way” during the transition period.
Autoliv came to Lowell in 2008 when it acquired a piece of M/A-Com Inc. The company has more than 80 facilities with more than 55,000 employees in 29 countries
