January 15, 2010
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said the future of the American auto industry is on display at the North American International Auto Show.
"I got a sneak peek of the auto show earlier this week, and here's what I saw: the future of the automobile and the American auto industry is electric," Granholm said. "Electric cars were on display everywhere throughout Cobo Hall. These electric cars are going to be powered by advanced batteries, and both the cars and the batteries are going to be made in Michigan."
"It's already happening," the governor continued. "Just last week at General Motors' Brownstown Township facility, the nation's first advanced lithium-ion batteries for mass production vehicles began rolling off the assembly line. And those batteries will power the Chevy Volt which goes into production late this year. The Volt will be made in Michigan, with General Motors investing $700 million in eight of its Michigan facilities to produce it."
"And earlier this week, Ford announced plans to invest an additional $450 million in Michigan, for a total of $1 billion, to produce its electric vehicle," Granholm said. "Ford's electric car also will be assembled in Michigan, and the company will move its battery pack assembly here from Mexico - that's right, jobs are moving from Mexico to Michigan, not the other way around."
"Federal assistance has been crucial to advanced battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and development," Granholm said. "President Obama and his administration, Congress and in particular the Michigan congressional delegation all have been instrumental in supporting a domestic battery industry and electric cars made in America."
"If you can, visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, or next month's Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids," Granholm said. "You'll see the future of the American auto industry - a future made in Michigan."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/govtogether with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is 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 - Auto Show
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov232Full_307620_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov232Edit_307621_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov232Quote_307622_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Every year the North American International Auto Show is a great place to see the newest cars and trucks. But this year something else is on display in Detroit: the future of the American auto industry.
I got a sneak peek of the auto show earlier this week, and here's what I saw: the future of the automobile and the American auto industry is electric. Electric cars were on display everywhere throughout Cobo Hall. These electric cars are going to be powered by advanced batteries, and both the cars and the batteries are going to be made in Michigan.
It's already happening. Just last week at General Motors' Brownstown Township facility, the nation's first advanced lithium-ion batteries for mass production vehicles began rolling off the assembly line.
And those batteries will power the Chevy Volt which goes into production late this year. The Volt will be made in Michigan, with General Motors investing $700 million in eight of its Michigan facilities to produce it. These advanced batteries are extremely technologically sophisticated so it is an entirely new manufacturing process and skill that will be required to make sure it ends up in the electric vehicle.
And earlier this week, Ford announced plans to invest an additional $450 million in Michigan, for a total of $1 billion, to produce its electric vehicle. Ford's electric car also will be assembled in Michigan, and the company will move its battery pack assembly here from Mexico - that's right, jobs are moving from Mexico to Michigan, not the other way around. Ford and GM's production of advanced batteries means jobs for Michigan, and other companies that produce advanced batteries also are popping up across the state.
Advanced battery manufacturing in Michigan isn't happenstance. In 2006, we identified the electric car battery as a growth sector. We enacted aggressive first-in-the-nation battery tax credits to attract battery companies to Michigan. And America elected a president committed to the same goal of a domestic battery industry.
Our hard work was rewarded this past August when 12 Michigan battery projects won more than $1.35 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. Michigan won more advanced battery grants than all of the other states combined.
Federal assistance has been crucial to advanced battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and development. President Obama and his administration, Congress and in particular the Michigan congressional delegation all have been instrumental in supporting a domestic battery industry and electric cars made in America.
If you can, visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, or next month's Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids. You'll see the future of the American auto industry - a future made in Michigan.
Thank you for listening.
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