A123 Hiring 400 In Livonia, Romulus

SOUTHFIELD -- The Massachusetts-based lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems Inc. plans to hire up to 400 people over the next several months at its two Michigan factories in Livonia and Romulus.

A123 spokesman Dan Borgasano said the company plans to hire about 100 workers a month over the next four months.

"They are mostly manufacturing positions, operators, things like that," Borgasano said.

More information is available at http://www.a123systems.com/about-us-careers.htm.

A123 makes cells and battery packs for vehicles, power grid storage and other applications.

According to Reuters, A123 told U.S. securities regulators last month that there was "substantial doubt" about its viability because it expects to burn through cash and report steep losses over the next several quarters.

The losses stem from more than $60 million in battery recalls the company had to make because of a defective weld put on battery packs at the Livonia plant that caused short circuits.

Said Borgasano of the recall and the notice to regulators: "That was an acknowledgement at a point of time, but we are digging out of that recall, and we have secured $50 million and funding, and we're doing a few other things on that front to make sure we have liquidity to go forward. The demand is there and we plan to grow, in transportation and our other markets."