RELEASE: ICYMI: Michigan a Top State for Electric Vehicle & Battery Investments, Bringing Home $16.6 Billion, Creating 16,300 Good-Paying Jobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2023

ICYMI: Michigan a Top State for Electric Vehicle & Battery Investments, Bringing Home $16.6 Billion, Creating 16,300 Good-Paying Jobs

New report highlights incredible opportunity to create manufacturing jobs, bring supply chains home

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted a recent report from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which found that Michigan has won $16.6 billion of projects creating 16,300 jobs as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the state’s economic development efforts. This follows encouraging studies, rankings, and research from several leading organizations and publications Michigan is leading the future of mobility and electrification.

“Michigan is on the move, and we have an extraordinary opportunity right now to create thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs and bring supply chains home,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are bringing home $16.6 billion of projects creating 16,300 jobs building batteries and electric vehicles. At the state level, we will continue powering this growth through our bipartisan economic development fund, rich manufacturing heritage, and skilled workers. Together, we will make Michigan the undisputed leader in mobility and electrification and build a brighter future. Let’s get it done.”

EDF Report

The EDF report finds that more than $120 billion of investments in American electric vehicle manufacturing have been announced in the last eight years, creating 143,000 good-paying jobs nationwide. Michigan has secured $16.6 billion of that total, creating 6,300 jobs in the state building batteries and electric vehicles. The report also states that manufacturing, investments, and jobs will continue to grow as a result of federal investments and incentives like the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, coupled with other state incentives, like the bipartisan SOAR fund established by Governor Whitmer.

By 2026, the U.S. is expected to produce 4.3 million new electric vehicles and enough batteries to supply 11.5 million vehicles, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicle battery manufacturing capacity is projected to be close to 20 times greater by 2030 than 2021.

Michigan: A Battery, Electric Vehicle, & Clean Energy Powerhouse

Experts at the policy research firm RMI noted that “the economic tide just turned,” as Michigan can create 34,000 new clean energy jobs and bring home $26 billion of investment as a direct result of the Inflation Reduction Act.
RMI also highlighted Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, noting that it could lead to 64,000 new manufacturing jobs by 2030 producing solar and wind energy, retrofitting existing buildings, and installing electric vehicle chargers.
CNBC identified Michigan as one of three states that will “dominate” electric vehicle battery manufacturing by 2030.
A Newsweek article highlighted efforts underway by American automakers to make Detroit the “next Silicon Valley” for mobility innovation.
Clean Jobs Midwest noted that Michigan saw 22% job growth in clean transportation and employed nearly 120,000 Michiganders in clean energy jobs, up 5.6% year over year.
A report from the U.S. Department of Energy showed that Michigan was the #1 state for energy job growth.
Site Selection Magazine identified Michigan as a top three state for sustainable development.

Bringing Manufacturing Jobs & Supply Chains Home

Since Governor Whitmer took office, Michigan has created over 35,000 auto jobs. Investments include:

May 2019: Stellantis announced the first new plant in Detroit in nearly 30 years, creating 6,000 jobs.
December 2019: Ford announced a $1.45 billion investment creating 3,000 jobs to help produce the first-ever electric F-150.
October 2020: GM announced a $2.2 billion investment to build Factory Zero creating 2,000 jobs.
January 2022: General Motors announced a $7 billion investment—the largest in company history—creating 4,000 jobs and retaining 1,000 jobs, to convert Orion Township assembly plant to build full-size electric vehicle pickups and build Ultium’s third U.S. battery plant in Lansing.
March 2022: LG Energy Solution announced a $1.7 billion expansion creating 1,200 jobs in Holland manufacturing batteries. 
June 2022: Ford Motor Company announced an investment of $2 billion, creating more than 3,200 jobs in plants across Michigan to support electric vehicle manufacturing growth and secure internal combustion engine portfolio in the state. 
June 2022: Canadian electric vehicle charging network operator FLO announced an investment of $3 million for the company’s first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills. 
October 2022: Michigan-based Our Next Energy announced a $1.6 billion investment to establish its first cell and electric vehicle battery pack gigafactory in Van Buren Township, creating up to 2,112 jobs. 
October 2022: Gotion announced a $2.36 billion investment for a new manufacturing facility in Big Rapids, creating up to 2,350 jobs.
January 2023: Ford announced a $3.5 billion investment, creating 2,500 good-paying jobs, in a new EV battery manufacturing facility in Marshall.

Whitmer Administration Accomplishments

Governor Whitmer is committed to growing Michigan’s economy and investing in our talented workforce:

Created the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, coordinating future mobility investments across state government.
Established the Michigan Reconnect program, putting tens of thousands of Michiganders on a tuition-free path to higher education and skills training.
Created the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, lowering the cost of community, private, and public college by thousands annually for 4 out of 5 high school students in Michigan.
Convened the Electric Vehicle and Mobility Talent Action Team, the first focused effort on talent in the electric vehicle and future mobility sectors.
Led REV Midwest, a 5-state compact to rollout regional charging infrastructure.
Announced the Lake Michigan Circuit, a network of EV charging infrastructure on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Partnered with the City of Detroit, Google, and Ford on Michigan Central, a mobility innovation hub to attract and retain skilled talent and high-growth companies in Detroit.
Piloted innovative new inductive charging technology that charges vehicles while in motion.
Announced the World Economic Forum Centre for Advanced Manufacturing in Michigan.

The Road Ahead  

With its legacy of automotive innovation and forward-thinking approach toward investment attraction and talent development, Michigan will be in the driver’s seat on the road to 2030 and beyond.  

Learn more about Michigan global leadership in transportation mobility and electrification at www.michiganbusiness.org/mobility/.  

###