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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Lordstown Motors Eyes Farmington Hills, Michigan, R&D Complex

11/19/2020
Lordstown Motors Corp., a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles, plans to invest $3.6 million and establish an automotive R&D center in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The project is expected to create 141 jobs, resulting in a $1 million Michigan Business Program performance-based grant.

Lordstown’s decision to locate the facility in Michigan is part of its long-term vision of establishing an electric vehicle epicenter in the Midwest. According to Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the company “is developing the world’s first all-electric pickup truck, the Lordstown Endurance.

“While we are proud of the truck we’ve built, the secret to Lordstown Motors has always rested in the workers, both the worker building the truck and the worker using the truck,” said Lordstown Motors CEO Steve Burns. “It takes a village and the opening of this center in Michigan reinforces the proof that innovation and manufacturing can be developed in the Midwest.”

“Lordstown Motors’ new R&D facility will drive new advancements in future mobility and demonstrates the strength of the talent in the state’s R&D and mobility sectors,” said MEDC Chief Business Development Officer and Executive Vice President Josh Hundt. “This new facility reinforces Michigan’s reputation as the global center of the automotive industry and a leader in future automotive technology and electrification, and we’re pleased to work with our local partners to support Lordstown’s investment.”

Lordstown plans to invest in its employees through on-the-job training, various advancement opportunities and a competitive benefits package. The company is working with local universities to recruit individuals, and Oakland County Michigan Works! has partnered with Lordstown to assist in workforce assessment, talent recruitment, and training support.

“Michigan alone accounts for 72 percent of all U.S. automotive R&D. As a known leader in vehicle electrification, Lordstown Motors’ decision to establish a new R&D center in Farmington Hills is continued proof of the Detroit region’s unrivaled ability to bring new automotive innovation to the market,” said Maureen Krauss, President and CEO of Detroit Regional Partnership. “The Detroit Regional Partnership was proud to support the MEDC on this project, and provide Lordstown Motors with strategic connections to key local workforce and educational partners.”

The city of Farmington Hills has offered free use of its Costick Center for recruitment events. Individuals interested in careers with Lordstown Motors Corp.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lordstown Motors Corp. to the community. As Michigan continues to position itself as the leader of transportation mobility, Farmington Hills works hard to provide a robust, business-friendly environment that supports Lordstown and its employees. The city of Farmington Hills works hard to provide a robust, business-friendly environment that supports Lordstown and its employees,” said Farmington Hills Economic Development Director Samantha Seimer. “The city of Farmington Hills is eager to help Lordstown find the talent they need to continue to push their revolutionary success forward and strengthen their roots in the community and the Detroit region.”

“Lordstown Motors’ decision to expand into Michigan for R&D speaks to the type of investments and job creation our state is seeing right now. Michigan presents powerful competitive advantages because of how robust our mobility ecosystem continues to be,” said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.

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