Canadian Company To Build EV Charging Facility In Auburn Hills

AUBURN HILLS, MI — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer partnered with a Canadian company to build an electric vehicle charging company in Auburn Hills, the governor's office announced Tuesday.

FLO, based in Quebec City, Canada, plans to invest $3 million into its first ever U.S. manufacturing facility, creating 133 Oakland County jobs in 2023, the company said.

"We are proud to welcome FLO to Michigan and serve as the home for their very first manufacturing facility in the United States," Whitmer said. "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."

The company said it expects to produce 250,000 electric chargers by 2028 for the U.S. market and the Auburn Hills facility is expected to create a total of 730 direct, indirect and induced jobs by 2028. The project is also accompanied by an $800,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

"From manufacturing and installation to charger maintenance – we are a part of the charging process every step of the way," FLO president and CEO Louis Tremblay said. "We look forward to getting to work here in Michigan and continuing our mission of fighting climate change by accelerating EV adoption."

The investment was the latest in a string of announcements by Whitmer to push Michigan in the direction of electric vehicles.

Whitmer and Ford recently announced a $2 billion investment into three Michigan plants at the Mackinac Policy Conference, which is expected to bring 3,200 union jobs and the creation of 2,000 new jobs in the state.

Whitmer also said officials were working to establish the country's first wireless charging road in Detroit. Preliminary plans indicate drivers could charge their electric car batteries while driving on a road that could stretch up to one mile.

While the state's budget is still being worked through the legislature, Whitmer proposed providing a $2,000 rebate for the purchase of an electric vehicle on top of the $7,500 federal credit and a $500 rebate for at-home charging infrastructure.