LANSING, Mich. – As part of a series of electric vehicle battery investments made, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in announcing Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) support for a transformational investment by the global battery company Gotion, which has chosen to build its battery component manufacturing facility in Big Rapids.
“Gotion’s $2.36 billion investment creating 2,350 good-paying jobs in Big Rapids is the biggest ever economic development project in Northern Michigan and will shore up our status as the global hub of mobility and electrification,” Whitmer said. “I am proud that Republicans and Democrats worked across the aisle to build up our economic development toolkit and empowered Michigan to compete for every project and every job. Together, we will continue winning investments in this space and become the preeminent destination for electric vehicle and mobility companies. We will work with anyone and compete with everyone to keep bringing supply chains of batteries, chips, and electric vehicles home to Michigan.”
Whitmer and the MEDC also announced Michigan Strategic Fund support for a transformational investment by Our Next Energy, a home-grown Michigan company that has chosen to build its first-ever battery manufacturing campus in Van Buren Township in Wayne County. The facility will be one of the few wholly US-owned manufacturers of both LFP and anode-free cells.
“Our Next Energy’s $1.6 billion investment creating 2,112 jobs in Van Buren Township will build on our economic momentum and secure the future of mobility and electrification right here in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “This innovative, Michigan-made company is on the cutting-edge of battery technology, and the work they’re doing will increase the range of electric vehicles to over 600 miles on a single charge. With this new gigafactory, we will continue bringing the supply chain of electric vehicles, chips, and batteries home to Michigan and the USA while creating a sustainable, clean energy economy. I am proud that Democrats and Republicans in Michigan came together to build up our economic development toolkit and empowered our state to compete for every project and every job. We will work with anyone and compete with everyone to keep putting Michiganders first, creating good-paying jobs with great benefits, and building the future of the auto industry right here in Michigan.”
MEDC CEO Quentin Messer congratulated the Gotion team on “choosing Michigan as their American home for opportunity.”
“Team Michigan continues to out-hustle and out-compete to ensure every global company considering their future expansion opportunities can see their future here in our state, just like Gotion does,” Messer said. “We are grateful for the support and collaboration from our multiple local partners at the city and country levels, our partners at The Right Place and Consumers Energy, in particular, and appreciate the bipartisan support of the legislature to bring these good-paying jobs and economic opportunities to our friends and neighbors both here in Big Rapids and throughout the region.”
Founded in 1998 and based in Hefei, China, Gotion High-tech Co. engages in the research and development, production, and sale of power lithium batteries in China and internationally. Its products include lithium iron phosphate materials and batteries, ternary materials and batteries, power battery packs, battery management systems, and energy storage battery packs for use in electric commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, special vehicles, and hybrid vehicles.
“We are dedicated to bringing world class lithium battery production to North America and delivering high-quality products to our customers in a timely fashion,” said Chuck Thelen, vice president of Gotion Global. “We look forward to our continued partnership to ensure a smooth launch.”.
In order to secure the project – which Michigan won out over Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Illinois and Ohio – the MSF Board approved a package of incentive support, including:
- A $125 million Critical Industry Program performance-based grant through the SOAR Fund
- An MSF Designated Renaissance Zone estimated to be worth $540 million
- A $50 million Strategic Site Readiness Program performance-based grant through the SOAR Fund will be administered by The Right Place to assist with infrastructure improvements.
“The Right Place is honored to have played a role in bringing this transformational project to the Big Rapids area, said Brent Case, Vice President, Business Attraction, The Right Place, Inc. “The location and community have been prepared for an opportunity like this to utilize the infrastructure, locally trained talent pool and outstanding resources from Ferris State University. We are well on our way to positioning the region at the center of West Michigan’s growing mobility and EV sector.”
Our Next Energy’s Van Buren Township facility will be one of the few wholly U.S.-owned manufacturers of both LFP and anode-free cells.
“Michigan is, and always has been, a home to risk-takers: daring men and women who have a dream for a better future, and the grit, tenacity and creativity to make that dream a reality. The team at Our Next Energy demonstrates the very best of Michigan’s talent, having built their business from the ground up to achieve global success,” Messer said. “We are proud to congratulate ONE on taking this exciting step and are grateful to them for choosing Michigan, where ONE started a few years ago.”
Our Next Energy is an energy storage company headquartered in Novi, MI founded with the mission to double the distance electric vehicles can travel using safer, more sustainable materials. Founded in 2020, ONE uses safe, sustainable, low-cost battery chemistries for consumer and commercial electric vehicles, in addition to developing technology for stationary storage – particularly around utility-scale energy storage systems. ONE is dedicated to the long-term vision of achieving vertical integration for American energy storage manufacturing by working to develop a robust and resilient domestic supply chain for critical minerals.
“ONE is thrilled to select Michigan for our first cell factory, due to the state’s unique combination of battery talent, proximity to material supply and access to low-cost energy,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE. “We applaud the leadership of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the MEDC team, led by Quentin Messer. In addition, our collaboration and new strategic partnerships with DTE Energy, Van Buren Township, and Wayne County have helped ONE build a strong foundation for clean tech manufacturing in Michigan.”
This gigafactory battery cell manufacturing campus, which the company has dubbed ONE Circle, will create 2,112 good-paying jobs and generate $1.6 billion in capital investment. The gigafactory will further have a generational impact in terms of workforce development, economic impact and tax revenue.
