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General Motors Co. is set to construct a $145 million battery cell prototype center at its Global Technical Center campus in Warren to accelerate electric vehicle battery cell development and lower costs. The Battery Cell Development Center is expected to begin production in 2027 and aims to bridge the gap between prototype and mass manufacturing as battery cell technology evolves rapidly. The facility, spanning 165,000 square feet, will focus on producing prototype EV batteries rather than mass production, with a peak capacity of 3,600 battery cells per year. The investment represents GM's continued expansion at its Tech Center, where the automaker has invested $2.5 billion over the past five years. [Extracted from the article]

Michigan officials are working to secure a microchip project that could bring a $55 billion investment and 10,000 jobs to a site in Genesee County. Western Digital Technologies Inc. is considering the development, which would involve several semiconductor manufacturing plants on a 1,300-acre site near Flint. The project is dependent on federal CHIPS Act funding and a state incentives package, with the state and local contributions expected to total over $22 billion. A decision on funding is expected before the November presidential election. [Extracted from the article]

Michigan has reduced its incentives package to Ford Motor Co. by over half after the automaker scaled back its electric vehicle (EV) projects to match demand. Ford will now receive tax incentives worth a maximum of $409.1 million instead of $1.03 billion for its EV battery plant in Marshall. The reductions align with Ford's project scaling back from $3.5 billion and 2,500 jobs to a new range of $2.5 billion-$3 billion and 1,700-2,100 jobs. The state is also rescinding a $100.8 million grant due to job creation falling short at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. Despite this, Ford has met its job creation and investment commitments elsewhere. The plant in Marshall is still expected to begin production of lithium iron phosphate batteries in 2026. [Extracted from the article]

German mobility testing company DEKRA is planning to invest $22.8 million in setting up an automotive testing center in Plymouth, Michigan. The center will offer various testing services, including electromagnetic compatibility testing, electric vehicle battery testing, EV charging testing, cybersecurity, and environmental testing. The investment is part of Michigan's efforts to attract more business from Germany and will create 18 jobs with salaries over $100,000 per year. DEKRA aims to contribute to the advancements in electric mobility and the automotive culture of the region. [Extracted from the article]

The Michigan Strategic Fund board has approved a $250 million grant to prepare a megasite near Flint for a major manufacturing project. The grant will be used for land acquisition, due diligence, and site clearing work. The site is expected to attract automotive, battery, semiconductor, and clean tech manufacturers, with the project estimated to spur over $2 billion in investment and create more than 2,000 direct jobs. While there is no confirmed end user yet, officials are actively working to secure one. The grant has received support from various organizations, but there are also concerns raised by some residents regarding safety, environment, transparency, and community disruption. [Extracted from the article]

Residents in Detroit are expressing concern over plans for a $210 million electric vehicle battery factory in the city's Milwaukee Junction neighborhood. While the project is expected to bring new jobs and industrial rejuvenation, some community members feel that they were not properly informed about the project before incentives were approved. Activist group Detroit People's Platform argues that a project of this size, especially one with environmental and safety concerns, should be presented to the community before receiving approval from state and local officials. There is also disagreement between the group and the city of Detroit regarding whether the project triggers the city's community benefits ordinance, which requires developers to engage with the community and address potential negative impacts. [Extracted from the article]

German auto supplier Orafol is undergoing a $100 million expansion in Oakland County, Michigan. The company is building a new factory and expanding its office building in Orion Township. The expansion is expected to create over 50 jobs and is driven by increased business from automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis, as well as Orafol Group's business in other segments. The move also serves as a strategic play to mitigate supply chain disruptions and currency exchange risks. The expansion will allow Orafol to increase capacity for the automotive market and move some production from Europe. The factory will support the production of vinyl and polyester products for various industries. The second phase of the project involves the reconstruction of the company's office building and the addition of a second story. The expansion is seen as a significant development for Orafol, allowing them to avoid shipping delays and create local jobs. [Extracted from the article]

Two manufacturers in Michigan, SK Siltron CSS and American Battery Solutions, are set to receive a total of $710 million in federal financing as part of the national clean energy agenda. The loans, provided through the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, will support the creation or maintenance of hundreds of jobs in Michigan and beyond. The loans have more favorable terms than commercial banks and are generally 10 to 15 years in length. The projects are conditional, pending the companies meeting certain technical terms. The loans are part of President Joe Biden's agenda to onshore and re-shore domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies. [Extracted from the article]

Fortescue WAE, a global mining and green energy company, plans to invest up to $210 million and create up to 600 new jobs by establishing an electric vehicle battery systems factory in Detroit's Milwaukee Junction district. The company received $12.7 million in state incentives to support the project. Fortescue CEO Judith Judson believes that Detroit is an attractive location for the plant due to its historical significance in the automotive industry and the presence of a skilled workforce. The factory aims to start production by mid-next year and will produce battery power systems for heavy trucking, construction, specialty vehicles, and local automakers. [Extracted from the article]

Ryan Maibach, President & CEO of Barton Malow Holdings, discusses his passion for construction and the sense of pride and ownership that comes with creating buildings. He highlights the importance of buildings in creating identity for communities and capturing people's imagination. Maibach mentions several high-profile construction projects, including the Hudson's site skyscraper in downtown Detroit and electric vehicle battery plants for Ford and General Motors. He also discusses the unique construction methods used in projects like the Exchange building in Detroit. Maibach emphasizes the responsibility of the construction industry to be better stewards of capital and drive innovation and efficiencies. [Extracted from the article]

Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS) is diversifying its business after Forvia, an automotive supplier, exited their joint venture. DMS, a certified minority-owned company, is now seeking new contracts in electric vehicle charging and defense. They recently secured a contract to supply EV wireless battery charging systems for InductEV, a Pennsylvania-based startup. DMS is also exploring opportunities in the defense sector. This move towards diversification comes after DMS's main business of supplying instrument panels for Ford Motor Co. was impacted by Ford's reduced volume projections for their F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. Despite potential challenges, DMS is optimistic about their expansion into the EV charging market and aims to contribute to reducing the carbon footprint in the sector. [Extracted from the article]

Michigan has invested $5 billion in incentives for electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery plants, but the demand for EVs has been lower than anticipated, leading to uncertainty for these projects. The high cost of EVs compared to gas-powered vehicles is a major challenge, as mass adoption won't happen until prices come down. Despite this setback, Michigan is still aggressively pursuing projects in the EV and mobility space. The state has committed nearly $5 billion in incentives since 2021, but there are concerns about the return on investment and whether Michigan will get its money's worth. [Extracted from the article]

Michigan economic development officials offered Stellantis NV a $1 billion incentive package to build a massive electric vehicle battery plant in the state, but the automaker ultimately chose a less subsidy-rich deal in Indiana. Michigan offered four different sites, including the Marshall megasite, which was later claimed by Ford Motor Co. for its own EV battery plant. Indiana's success in winning the Stellantis-Samsung SDI projects was attributed to its relationship building in South Korea and favorable business conditions. Michigan has previously won several large-scale EV battery plants, but some projects have faced challenges. [Extracted from the article]

It is not clear whether Gotion will seek IRA tax credits for its Illinois plant. Chinese manufacturer Gotion Inc. is not pursuing federal tax credits for its $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery materials plant near Big Rapids, according to a top North American executive. [Extracted from the article]

The deal with Toyota is LG's largest single supply agreement secured outside of a JV. LG Energy Solution will invest an additional $3 billion in Michigan to supply Toyota Motor North America Inc. with lithium-ion battery modules for electric vehicles, the companies announced Wednesday. [Extracted from the article]

Automakers don't disagree a raise is in order for its 150,000 UAW-represented workers; the problem is the size of the ask, said Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto, a nonprofit launched in 2007 to grow Michigan's auto industry. As the United Auto Workers strike continues, Detroit's three major automakers have more to fear than the immediate financial pain of idle factories, such as Ford's Torrence Avenue assembly plant. [Extracted from the article]

The plant, which will be capable of supporting 100 gigawatt hours of battery production, will also supply a Gotion battery pack plant in the U.S. Its location has not yet been announced, but Thelen said it will not be in Michigan. Gotion Inc. is gearing up to make its first hires around Big Rapids for a $2.4 billion electric vehicle battery parts plant that executives hope will remain nonunionized. [Extracted from the article]

Gotion Inc.'s top North American executive said Wednesday that the Chinese company is targeting July to start construction on a planned $2.4 billion battery parts plant in the Big Rapids area. Thelen said those terms apply to parent company Gotion High-Tech Co. Ltd. but not the North American subsidiary established in California in 2014, which is building the plant near Big Rapids. "There is no communist plot": Gotion responds to criticism: Firm plans to build battery parts plant near Big Rapids. [Extracted from the article]

Most of the product from the factory will be supplied to Gotion plants that make final batteries, and the rest would be supplied externally, Thelen said. Gotion Inc. hopes to move forward with a $2.4 billion EV battery parts plant in the Big Rapids area, but it has a backup plan that could involve leaving the state if the deal falls apart, said Chuck Thelen, the company's vice president for North American operations. Since announcing the plant and plans to create 2,350 jobs last year, the Chinese battery manufacturer has run into some resistance that has caused it to delay construction and reconfigure the factory footprint. [Extracted from the article]

Novi-based Our Next Energy Inc. is tapping into the grid with ambitions to double its revenue projection over the next five years and woo even more investors. The fast-scaling startup, whose core product is lithium iron phosphate batteries for vehicles, is launching a stationary energy storage system marketed at public utilities such as DTE Energy Co. and Consumers Energy Co. [Extracted from the article]

Michigan is competing "aggressively" for an electric vehicle battery factory planned by Ford Motor Co. and a Chinese battery giant that would bring $3.5 billion of investment and create 2,500 jobs. As with the Gotion plant, Ford's plant with CATL - the largest EV battery maker in the world - has stirred political tension. State takes run at EV battery plant: Michigan competing "aggressively"; Ford stays mum on plan. [Extracted from the article]

Highland Park Magna Seating of America Inc. plans to invest $3.8 million to build out a leased 114,000-square-foot plant at 12240 Oakland Parkway, according to an MEDC briefing memo. To support the latest expansion, the MEDC increased the value of its Michigan Business Development Program from $1.5 million to $7.5 million, approved a 100 percent SESA tax exemption worth $6.3 million and authorized a State Education Tax abatement. [Extracted from the article]

Lear plans $80 million plant "in our backyard" "This additional new business with GM was made possible by Lear's recognized value proposition in electrification that combines flexible manufacturing operations and advanced Industry 4.0 automation technologies with our vertically integrated capabilities." Lear Corp. will open an $80 million plant and create hundreds of jobs in Michigan after winning a program with General Motors Co. that marks its largest electric vehicle deal and investment to date, the supplier said Thursday. [Extracted from the article]

Regulatory climate played a role in Stellantis North America planting its $2.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant investment in Indiana over Michigan, where its environmental reputation has taken a beating due to enforcement of air quality violations at its Jeep plant in Detroit, according to officials involved in the site selection process. "It could be Indiana treating Stellantis more as a partner and perhaps Michigan treating Stellantis in a more antagonistic way via the way that regulation was enforced.". [Extracted from the article]

Electric vehicle battery startup Our Next Energy Inc. plans to quadruple the size of its footprint and double headcount as it prepares for production and another round of fundraising. In the meantime, the company is looking for another capital uplift to help it launch production of its commercial vehicle battery, launching a Series B round unusually soon after closing its Series A. "The commercial truck business is a fairly rapid path to market", Ijaz said. [Extracted from the article]

In her role as CEO of Auburn Hills-based Vitesco Technologies North America, newly spun off from Continental AG, she is challenged with guiding a $2.3 billion powertrain supplier through a global microchip shortage and industry transformation to electric power. VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA: With a father who worked as an automotive executive in Detroit, Sandy Stojkovski had the freedom to be whatever type of engineer she wanted when she grew up. And so as a supplier, the way we do that is through a portfolio of very focused products and systems in those areas, especially focused on battery electric vehicle powertrain systems as well as hybrids and, of course, certain internal combustion engine components which have a life beyond 2030. [Extracted from the article]