DIFFERENT PARTIES’ STANCES
The Biden administration wants all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
It is offering tax credits to drivers buying EVs and helping manufacturers with grants to convert their factories for the production of such vehicles.
Harris is expected to continue the current administration’s policies, though some reports suggest she has softened her position on EV mandates.
Meanwhile, Trump is hoping to win Michigan by warning that the industry is under threat from electrification.
That is why Pannebecker started his group.
He told CNA: “We’ve closed two engine plants in Macomb County alone in the last few years as they began to ramp up electric vehicle production, because what do electric vehicles not need? Engines.
“We have entire plants devoted to doing one thing: building engines.”
Michigan – one of several pivotal swing states – is where Henry Ford revolutionised transportation. Titans in the automotive industry including General Motors, Chrysler, and Cadillac are headquartered in the state.
While gas-powered cars are still being manufactured, many factories once vital to the sector have been demolished or are in the process of being pulled down to make way for an electric future.
Across the state, preparations are also underway for an influx of EVs on the roads.
Armed with US$110 million in federal money, Michigan plans to install 100,000 public charging ports by 2030 to serve some 2 million electric vehicles.
At Macomb Community College, students can pick up skills applicable to EV manufacturing. When they start working, they can expect to earn between US$25 and US$30 per hour.
