January 18, 2008
January 18, 2008
Michigan's talent is building next generation of vehicles
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that the kind of advanced automotive technology being highlighted at this year's North American International Auto Show is exactly the kind of advanced automotive technology that is being developed right here in Michigan.
"There is no doubt that this is a period of great change for the auto industry," Granholm said. "But if the vehicles on display in Detroit and Grand Rapids are any indication, Michigan's new advanced automotive industry is ready to compete and win."
Part of the governor's comprehensive plan to diversify Michigan's economy to attract and grow good-paying jobs is to create a new advanced automotive industry right here in Michigan.
"With more auto research and development centers located in Michigan than in all of North America combined, and more than anywhere else in the world, it's Michigan's talent that's engineering, designing and building the next generation of vehicles," Granholm said.
Starting this weekend, you can see many of these concepts at the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And in two weeks, you can get another look at the auto show in Grand Rapids.
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov for download, together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - North American International Auto Show
January 18, 2008
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov128_Full_221979_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov128_Edit_221980_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov128_Edit_221981_7.mp3
This is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
I've spent a lot of time talking about our comprehensive plan to diversify Michigan's economy - especially our "Go Anywhere Do Anything" approach to attracting and growing good-paying jobs in fields like life sciences, homeland security and alternative energy.
Well, I want to tell you that one of the things we're also doing as part of our plan is to build on our past successes in the auto industry to create a new advanced automotive industry right here in Michigan.
Starting this weekend, you have the opportunity to see a lot of what we're talking about at the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And in two weeks, you can get another look at the Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids.
For instance, you may have heard that this year's shows will highlight next generation vehicles that are more fuel efficient or are powered by alternative energy - vehicles like plug-in hybrids and electric concept cars and trucks. This is exactly the kind of advanced automotive technology that is being developed right here in Michigan.
With more auto research and development centers located in Michigan than in all of North America combined, and more than anywhere else in the world, it's Michigan's talent that is engineering, designing and building the next generation of vehicles.
With all of the concerns about the high price of gas, global warming and our dependence on foreign oil…and with all of the work that we're doing right now to build our new alternative energy industry…it seems especially fitting to me that these next generation vehicles should be such a big part of the world's greatest auto shows right here in Michigan.
So, if you're thinking of going to the Auto Show in Detroit to get a first hand look, it runs through Sunday, January 27, and the Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids runs January 31 to February 3.
The bottom line is this: behind all of the glitz, fancy displays and shiny paint jobs - the auto shows are about Michigan jobs. And whether they're GM cars, Fords, or Chryslers, we're proud of all of the different vehicles our workers produce and offer to the world. We're doubly proud of their continuing commitment to build the best quality vehicles on the road.
There is no doubt that this is a period of great change for the auto industry. But if the vehicles on display in Detroit and Grand Rapids are any indication, Michigan's new advanced automotive industry is ready to compete and win.
This is Governor Jennifer Granholm. Thanks for listening.
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