PORTAGE, Ind. (AP): A Southfield, Michigan, company that makes automotive seating and electrical distribution systems has announced plans to spend $7.3 million to lease and equip a new 93,000 square-foot facility in northwestern Indiana.
 
Lear Corp. says it plans to create up to 96 jobs at the facility in Portage, 30 miles east of Chicago. Lear says the facility will allow the company to increase storage space, optimize production requirements and meet increased industry demand for Ford Explorer seat systems.
 
Lear has about 1,200 full-time employees in Indiana. It plans to begin hiring production assemblers in April.
 
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Lear Corporation up to $675,000 in conditional tax credits based on its job-creation plans. The city of Portage approved additional incentives.