Michigan

Michigan faces an evolutionary crossroads as the auto industry that defined its economy for a century transforms beneath its feet. The state produces one-fifth of all US automobiles and ranks first nationally for automotive manufacturing and EV investment—yet Ford's $11.4 billion decision to build its next-generation plant in Kentucky and Tennessee signals competitive pressures that infrastructure alone cannot overcome.

The electric vehicle transition presents both opportunity and threat. EVs on American roads grew from 2.1 million in 2021 to 6.2 million in 2025, but US adoption lags global rates—just 6% domestic growth versus 25% worldwide. Governor Whitmer staked Michigan's future on EV supply chains, attracting battery and assembly plant investments. Yet federal policy whiplash under the Trump administration reversed incentives, while local resistance delayed projects. The state has generated 26,000 clean energy jobs since 2022, but analysts suggest fully embracing EVs could add 56,000 additional manufacturing jobs by 2030.

Consumer behavior offers hope: 25% of new car shoppers express strong EV interest, and 94% of EV owners plan to repurchase electric. Michigan, Georgia, and Kentucky are projected to dominate US battery manufacturing by 2030, producing 97-136 gigawatt-hours annually. The question is whether Michigan can complete its metamorphosis fast enough. The state's auto manufacturing sector still surpasses the next seven sectors combined, making the transition existential—adapt or face the fate of regions whose single industries vanished beneath them.