FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2022 Contact: [email protected]
PHOTOS: Lt. Governor Gilchrist Joins EV Charger Operator FLO to Launch U.S. Manufacturing Facility Creating 133 Jobs in Oakland County
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist joined Louis Tremblay, the chief executive officer of FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider, to cut the ribbon at a new electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills. The Auburn Hills facility is FLO’s first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility and is expected to support 730 jobs by 2028, including creating 133 jobs in 2023. The facility builds on Michigan’s momentum leading electric vehicle-related investments as the state prepares for an electric future.
“We are proud to welcome FLO to Michigan and serve as the home for their very first manufacturing facility in the United States,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “As we look toward growing our economy, investing in our workforce, and creating good-paying jobs, we know the importance of leading the transition to electric vehicles. FLO’s presence in Oakland County builds on our tradition of automotive manufacturing with an eye toward our electrified future. I could not be prouder that the world’s manufacturing leaders know Michigan is the place to be.”
FLO offers smart home charging solutions for both single-family houses and multi-unit residential buildings, as well as access to thousands of public charging stations across the country. Located near the heart of the U.S. auto industry, the facility’s state of the art testing lab will help FLO build chargers compatible with the latest new EVs coming off nearby production lines. The company expects to produce 250,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2028 for the U.S. market.
“There is no better location for FLO to plant roots in the U.S. than Michigan – the birthplace of the American auto industry,” said Louis Tremblay, FLO President and CEO. “Our new facility will establish FLO’s American operational foothold, helping us to create jobs, strengthen charging infrastructure, and meet the charging needs of EV drivers nationwide. Michigan has created a clear roadmap for success for EV charging companies like FLO, providing funding and launching initiatives aimed at expanding charging access and accelerating EV adoption. We look forward to building the efficient, reliable, and safe charging network of tomorrow, right here in Michigan.”
The Auburn Hills facility is slated to start production later this year and will continue scaling up workforce and production. An economic report released by BMW Research estimates the facility will generate $51.7 million in labor income for Michigan workers that benefit from the construction and operations of the facility. It is projected to generate $134 million in revenue from sales of electric vehicle chargers and $76 million in gross state product in the state of Michigan by 2028.
Governor Whitmer has launched several initiatives to advance Michigan’s electric vehicle infrastructure to draw investments from companies such as FLO. Those include the Michigan Revolution for the Electrification of Vehicles (MiREV), which works directly with employers to ensure Michigan has the programs and resources to fill both current and future talent gaps for in-demand and emerging jobs in the mobility and electrification industry and played a key role in helping to attract FLO to expand and grow in Michigan.
The governor also launched the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which works across state government, academia, and private industry to enhance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem, and unveiled the MI Future Mobility Plan, which maps out a comprehensive roadmap to guide Michigan’s future mobility investments. The governor launched the electric vehicle Jobs Academy and Mobility Talent Action Team to prepare Michigan’s workforce for electric vehicle and component manufacturing jobs and partnered with Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin to announce the Lake Michigan Circuit, a network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure around Lake Michigan.
Additionally, the governor partnered with the City of Detroit, Ford, and Google to launch Michigan Central, a mobility innovation hub, and enacted the Building Michigan Together Plan, which invests $25 million in the mobility futures initiative to put Michigan in the lead on future mobility and electrification.
“Michigan is an ideal location for EV charging companies wanting to change the world. We offer customer proximity, a strong supply chain, a talented workforce, commitment to innovation, and aggressive programs to rollout charging infrastructure,” said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan. “We are honored to have FLO, one of the most exciting charging companies in the world, join our mobility and electrification industry as they expand their presence across North America.”
FLO’s investment builds on other mobility-related investments in the state, including:
“The Auburn Hills community welcomes FLO and the hundreds of jobs they’ll generate for our residents,” said Mayor Kevin McDaniel. “Auburn Hills has been on the cutting edge of the automotive industry for decades, and this new facility will help us embrace the transition to electric and the future of the industry.”
“GM is working toward an all-electric future, which requires accessible and reliable charging infrastructure. We appreciate FLO’s collaboration with us to make charging access more widespread,” said Hoss Hassani, GM Vice President of EV Ecosystem. “Their new Auburn Hills facility will strengthen this collaboration as we work to help build a North American EV charging supply chain and put everyone in an EV.”
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Lt. Governor Gilchrist Joins EV Charger Operator
