At Detroit Auto Show, Whitmer fears changes hitting auto industry

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sounded the alarm once more throughout a speech on the Detroit Auto Present about President Donald Trump’s commerce insurance policies and different financial modifications that she mentioned have remoted america in a world financial system as a substitute of strategically positioning the auto trade to compete in opposition to China.

“America is extra alone than it has been in many years and maybe no sector has seen extra change and been extra affected than our auto trade, and there have been many challenges. The ebb and circulate of the shift to electrical energy, provide chain constraints, know-how integration and autonomous automobiles, workforce points, to not point out tariffs, which have taken a horrible toll,” Whitmer mentioned Thursday, Jan. 15.

Tariffs alone, Whitmer mentioned, “won’t magically restore American manufacturing.”

“In a phrase, we’re taking up China,” she mentioned. “And they’re making nice progress.” To compete, she known as for a two-pronged method: ‘innovation’ and ‘collaboration’. She pushed for incentives for analysis and improvement, whereas highlighting new tax breaks for Michigan companies on this entrance. She additionally supported changes that might keep – quite than abolish – the commerce settlement between america, Mexico and Canada, which is in want of renewal.

Earlier than taking the stage, Whitmer took government motion and signed a directive to discover the potential of tapping Michigan’s geological hydrogen as a clear vitality supply, touting it as a approach to doubtlessly scale back dependence on international gas. In her speech, she additionally outlined alternatives to work with state lawmakers.

As she celebrated the street funding package deal she signed into regulation in late 2025, she known as on lawmakers to take renewed bipartisan motion to enhance Michigan’s workforce and enact new financial improvement insurance policies.

Whitmer needs Michigan Reconnect — which presents a tuition-free path to incomes an affiliate diploma or abilities certificates — to decrease the age restrict from 25 to 21. After lawmakers final 12 months declined to fund a enterprise grant program championed by Whitmer that has supported electrical vehicle-related tasks, the governor’s workplace mentioned legislative leaders vowed to ship financial improvement laws her approach earlier than the top of the 12 months. That did not occur. “I’ll attempt to get them to maintain their phrase this 12 months,” Whitmer informed reporters.

Whitmer’s look on the auto present marked her final as governor, though she vowed to return as a customer sooner or later. Whitmer can’t run for re-election on account of time period limits. At one level, when a automobile alarm blared throughout the corridor and disrupted the governor’s speech, Whitmer joked that the car was applauding her.

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As governor, Whitmer doesn’t get behind the wheel. Throughout her stroll by means of the automobile present, she mentioned she hasn’t pushed in eight years. Behind the wheel of the 2026 Escalade IQ, she contemplated her future journey. “There can be a variety of new know-how to get used to once I get again on the street,” she mentioned.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.