"Right now the car business is a little slow, but we're looking ahead for growth during the next three to five years that we could fit in a future development," Dawson tells GlobeSt.com.

The division currently operates out of three separate sites in Plymouth, MI. Dawson said a new division headquarters would offer more office, technological and research and development space, for up to 2,000 employees. The division has 1,700 employees now.

Dawson said the company is still mulling ideas about the future site. He wouldn't name the other two states where the company has an interest, other than to say they border Michigan.

Johnson Controls has an option to buy the Salem Township land from Real Estate Interests Group Inc. of Bloomfield Hills. Dawson wouldn't comment on a purchase price. Land at I-275 in nearby Plymouth has been selling for around $85,000 an acre.

"We're now looking at the feasibility of the Salem site, looking at all the issues, utilities in the area, and the economic impact to the community if we should decide to locate there," Dawson said.

A decision on whether to buy the Michigan land should be made sometime in April, Dawson said. If the Salem site isn't selected, the company should buy another site sometime this year, he said.

Johnson Controls is a multi-billion dollar manufacturer of automotive systems and building controls.