Metro Detroit Auto Part Maker Announces Mass Layoff

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A metro Detroit brake maker is planning to lay off dozens of workers next month, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification.

The Akebono Brake Corporation, located along 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, will permanently cut at least 48 employees next month, according to the notice.

The notice will also affect roughly five additional employees at a plant in Kentucky.

The layoffs begin on Oct. 1 and continue through Dec. 1, and will mostly impact engineering jobs, lab techs, analysts, designers and program managers, according to the notice.

"This workforce reduction/layoffs are the result of a decline in Akebono’s U.S. Business and are expected to be permanent," according to the notice.

None of the affected employees are represented by a union.

The Japanese auto part maker focuses on brake pads and features "world-class engineers and are equipped with more than 100 chassis dynamometers, more than any other brake supplier in the industry," according to its website.