Staff Writer

The automotive industry has always been a key lifeline of the Michigan economy. As new technologies and innovations enter the world of auto manufacturing, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has done her part to strengthen the state’s key industry and bring high-tech manufacturing jobs to Michigan.

Since the governor took office in 2019, companies in Michigan have announced over 30,000 good-paying auto jobs—”from line workers to engineers”—building on the state’s automotive heritage and securing its future by incorporating new technologies, especially regarding electric vehicles.

Key companies such as Gotion, Our Next Energy, GM, and Ford have launched billion-dollar investments to the state, helping to create these jobs and affirming the state’s role as an automotive powerhouse. These investments are said to directly aid the state in creating pathways for the manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries, and most crucially, semiconductors and chips.

These accomplishments come on the heels of COVID-induced supply chain issues which dramatically slowed the production and distribution of chips, used in key electrical technologies in many industries such as healthcare, computing, and transportation. Bringing the production of these chips onto domestic soil was a major motivator for the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act earlier this year, which will create $52 billion in incentives for semiconductor research and development around the country.

Whitmer has already directed state agencies to leverage the CHIPS Act, as well to identify further opportunities for workforce development in the semiconductor industry. 

As the automotive industry continues to grow and expand, Whitmer has proven her commitment to keeping the historic industry in Michigan and providing new, high-paying jobs for Michiganders.