The Department of Energy (DOE) announced USD 1.7 billion in planned grants to help fund the conversion of 11 "at risk" plants in eight states to enable the production of 1 million EVs annually, help retain 15,000 existing jobs, and create 3,000 new positions.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters the awards were a "hallmark of the Biden administration's industrial strategy" and would "modernise historical auto manufacturing facilities." She said it had become clear more than a decade ago that automakers, to embrace the future, "needed a federal partner especially to compete with other countries who were subsidizing their auto industries and that's what this massive investment is all about."
The awards are for plants in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia - several of which are crucial in the November presidential election.
President Joe Biden has prodded US automakers to assemble a rising number of EVs, introduced new tax incentives and funded EV charging stations. Regulators have also issued stricter emissions rules that will boost EV sales.
Donald Trump has harshly criticised Biden's EV policies and vowed to reverse them if he takes office. The White House is courting union workers in key battleground states and seeking to reassure autoworkers that EVs will not cost jobs.
General Motors will receive USD 500 million to convert its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan to EVs at an unspecified future date. GM said it will make its own unspecified investment to produce EVs in Lansing at a future date but said the plant will continue to produce the Cadillac CT4 and CT5.
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