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The world’s greatest auto show is back! This week, in the heart of the city that put the world on wheels, people from all over the state and the nation are gathering in Detroit to experience the future of the automotive industry. I had the pleasure of joining President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg earlier this week for a tour of new products and technologies that gave us a peek into what that future will look like.
Since I took office, I have worked to ensure that Michigan continues to lead the world in the automotive space. We have announced nearly 25,000 good-paying auto jobs, brought home chip and battery plants, and cemented Michigan’s status as a global manufacturing leader.
Last week, I signed three executive directives to use the Inflation Reduction Act to build on our legendary manufacturing heritage, unleash the potential of our people and businesses, and make Michigan even more competitive against other states in the mobility and electrification sectors. I also signed an executive directive last month ensuring that we harness every available resource from the recent, bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that will build on our semiconductor manufacturing progress.
In 2022, Michigan has celebrated a series of transformational investments that demonstrate continued industry growth across the automotive and electric vehicle mobility sector, including:
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Stellantis is investing $83 million to the Dundee Engine Complex as it retools to build a new four-cylinder turbo engine for their hybrid electric vehicles
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General Motors is investing $7 billion to convert its Orion Township assembly plant to build full-size electric vehicle pickups and build Ultium’s third U.S. battery cell plant in Lansing
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South Korea-based battery maker LG Energy Solution is investing $1.7 billion to quintuple plant capacity in Holland
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Ford Motor Company is investing $2 billion in plants across Michigan to support electric vehicle manufacturing growth and secure its internal combustion engine portfolio in the state
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Semiconductor wafer manufacturer SK Siltron is investing $302 million in Bay County to support the U.S. semiconductor supply chain and electric vehicle growth
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Hemlock Semiconductor, a leading provider of high-purity polysilicon products for the electronic and solar power industries, onboarded over 400 full-time employees in Hemlock
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KLA, a global semiconductor firm, opened their headquarters in Ann Arbor, creating 600 good-paying jobs
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Canadian electric vehicle charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider FLO is investing $3 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills
Yesterday, I announced the MI Future Mobility Plan, which lays out a detailed strategy for workforce development, infrastructure, and economic tools we need to remain the global leader of mobility. This plan will help us build a stronger economy by:
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Growing our mobility industry and workforce
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Providing safer, greener, and more accessible infrastructure
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Leading the world in mobility and electrification policy and innovation
With these goals, we can build an economy that secures Michigan's standing as a global mobility powerhouse, while creating more good-paying, high-skill jobs for the workers who make it all happen. We have the momentum, and this plan will help us keep moving forward. Let’s keep showing the world what Michiganders are capable of.
Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan
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