Ypsilanti's New Eagle plans to add 10 engineers

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

A little more than a year ago, Rich and Mickey Swortzel started New Eagle. Today the Ypsilanti-based start-up cuts paychecks for 12, including independent contractors and interns. It hopes to hire another 10 engineers by summer.

New Eagle specializes in creating electronic control modules (think of the computer systems that help make your car run) for hybrids and the engineering services that support them. The Swotzels started New Eagle after the company they worked for (MotoTron) was acquired and moved many of its operations to Colorado.

"We wanted to start our own company," says Mickey Swortzel, business manager of New Eagle. "We wanted to enter this market."

This company is building the brains behind electric and hybrid vehicles. New Eagle's principal product, MotoHawk, facilitates electronic controls. There are more than a dozen such brains in an average car today that control everything from the windows to the locks.

"Picture 20 laptops in your car measuring X and telling your car to do Y if Z happens," Mickey Swortzel says.

New Eagle plans to facilitate its growth this year by pushing its engineering service sales. The idea is they will spark more sales in its principal product.

Source: Mickey Swortzel, business manager of New Eagle
Writer: Jon Zemke