SHENZHEN PROVINCE (WKZO AM/FM) — Foxconn, the Taiwan based manufacturer of cell-phone parts that recently announced they will be building a massive $10-billion dollar plant to make liquid crystal displays in Wisconsin, may also have something in mind for Michigan.
The South China Morning Post is reporting that there may be plans for the company to diversify into the Autonomous car business, and if it does, it would build a research and development facility in Michigan.
The report apparently followed a visit by Governor Snyder to Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou in Shenzhen during his China Trade Mission which ends tomorrow.
“I can’t say it is a sure thing, but we are indeed in discussion with several other states and the details will be announced soon,” Gou said, according to the newspaper.
Snyder issued this statement after the meeting. “I appreciate Chairman Gou’s hospitality and was very impressed by what I learned about his vision for the future of Foxconn. We had a very productive dialogue about the importance of talent in manufacturing and the future of autonomous driving in addition to a tour of Foxconn’s world class products and manufacturing facility.”
The state may need the extra jobs.
The revival of the U.S. Auto industry since the Great Recession when it looked like we might lose one or two members of the “Big Three” has been nothing short of inspirational. It appears that the comeback has peaked out and that’s never good news for Michigan.
Economist Brian Long says for the first time, it’s being felt by west Michigan parts suppliers. July sales took the biggest dip yet, the sixth straight month of lower sales year to year.
The Dean at the Haworth School of Business, Davrim Yaman says the Dow Jones went over the 22,000 mark for the first time last week, despite a decline in auto stocks that have not done well lately.
It’s not all gloomy news. While autos sales are slipping, agriculture is holding its own and tourism may be headed for a record year.
