The Metro Detroit-based company pledges to invest billions into the region
It’s no secret that Michigan is home to the “Automotive Capital of the World.” Now, a $1.6 billion investment in cell electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing by a Michigan-grown company is one of many that are contributing to the state’s leadership in the mobility industry’s EV revolution.
Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Our Next Energy (ONE) announced its new battery manufacturing campus – dubbed ONE Circle – in Van Buren Township after a nationwide search, bringing 2,112 jobs to the region.
The campus will be ONE’s first cell and EV battery pack gigafactory to use a newly developed cell factory model with an emphasis on developing a North American raw material supply chain and a co-located material refinement strategy. ONE also included plans to scale to 20 GWh capacity within five years, and will include raw material refinement, cathode materials production, as well as cell and battery manufacturing.
“ONE is thrilled to select Michigan for our first cell factory, due to the state’s unique combination of battery talent, proximity to material supply and access to low-cost energy,” said Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE. “Our collaboration and new strategic partnerships with DTE Energy, Van Buren Township, and Wayne County have helped ONE build a strong foundation for clean tech manufacturing in Michigan.”
Founded in 2020, the energy storage company has tasked itself to double the distance EVs can travel using safer, more sustainable materials. ONE uses safe, sustainable, low-cost battery chemistries for consumer and commercial EVs in addition to developing technology for stationary storage – particularly around utility-scale energy storage systems.
Their commitment to sustainability will also lead Michigan closer to its goal to become carbon neutral by 2050, with interim 2030 goals.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrated the company’s investment – and strong bet on Michigan – in October, joined by ONE leadership as well as federal, state, and local leaders at a special ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating ONE’s growth and the new factory.
“ONE is a Michigan-born-and-raised company on the cutting-edge of mobility and electrification,” said Gov. Whitmer. “The decision by this innovative company to keep its headquarters in Novi and establish a new manufacturing plant in Wayne County shows the world that Michigan is the place to build the future.”
With the creation of thousands of new jobs, the ONE Circle brings the opportunity for highly skilled engineering, manufacturing and operations jobs for Michiganders. ONE will partner with Focus: HOPE to develop a training program that will provide skills-based training for its employee base modeled after established certification programs.
The company’s investment will not only impact metro Detroit, but also the state’s overall economy. Officials at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) estimate $16.8 billion in new personal income is expected to be generated by the direct, indirect, and induced jobs as result of this new employment over the next 20 years.
“Michigan is, and always has been, a home to risk-takers: daring men and women who have a dream for a better future, and the grit, tenacity and creativity to make that dream a reality,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC.
Thanks to the latest electrification and mobility technology advancements, the automotive industry is undergoing the most transformative period in its history. ONE’s investment in Michigan is among the many recent substantial investments further cementing the state’s status as a leader in the EV revolution.
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