Gotion Archives - The Michigan Star

Potential Conflict of Interest Between Local Officials and China-Linked Gotion Rattle Michigan Suit

September 24, 2024September 24, 2024 Just the News

The Michigan township that turned against a planned battery plant project led by a China-tied company, and is now being sued over their decision, alleged in court filings that former board trustees failed to disclose conflicts of interest and apparent inducements to approve the controversial project.

The allegations filed late last week are poised to shake up battery-maker Gotion’s lawsuit against the Green Charter Township and its new board, which moved to reverse efforts by the previous trustees to facilitate the firm’s plans to build and electric vehicle battery plant in the community. The new board’s efforts, Gotion claims, violate a Development Agreement signed between it and the township last year.

House Votes to Ban Chinese-Based Company’s EV Batteries from Homeland Security

September 11, 2024September 10, 2024 The Center Square

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit electric-vehicle batteries from Gotion and several other foreign companies from being used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Republican Lawmakers Urge Biden Admin to Blacklist Major Chinese Battery Companies with U.S. Interests

June 10, 2024 Michigan Star Staff

A group of Republican lawmakers is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to effectively ban imports from two Chinese battery companies with business interests in the U.S.

Five Republicans — including Chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) John Moolenaar, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — wrote letters to DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans Robert Silvers requesting that the agency bar battery manufacturers CATL and Gotion High-Tech from shipping goods to the U.S. because of connections to forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region.

Executive at U.S. Battery Manufacturer Pictured at Chinese Communist Party Meetings

April 6, 2024April 5, 2024 Michigan Star Staff

A director of an American firm that’s building battery manufacturing plants in the U.S. has been pictured attending multiple Chinese Communist Party (CCP) meetings, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation review of the website of the firm’s China-based parent company.

Gotion Inc., the California-based subsidiary of Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech Co. (Gotion High-Tech), is planning to build massive electric vehicle battery plants in Michigan and Illinois, both of which stand to benefit from taxpayer funding. Gotion Inc. Vice President Chuck Thelen has repeatedly denied any CCP ties, but a DCNF investigation found the company’s chief technology officer attended two CCP meetings in China.

Gotion Sues Michigan Town over Water Line Dispute

March 20, 2024March 19, 2024 The Center Square

A company taking $715 million of taxpayer subsidies is suing the local government for revoking vital water infrastructure for its electric vehicle plant.

In October 2023, the Green Charter Township board approved the water line for Gotion, which bought 270 actors of land in Mecosta County in August 2023.

CCP-Linked EV Company Buys Land in Michigan for Factory

August 4, 2023August 3, 2023 Michigan Star Staff

On Tuesday, an electric vehicle (EV) company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced that it had purchased 270 acres of land in the state of Michigan to build a factory for battery components.

According to the Daily Caller, the planned factory near Big Rapids, Michigan will be located roughly 100 miles away from an American military facility, and within 60 miles of military armories. The factory will be built and operated by Gotion, an EV company that could receive hundreds of millions of dollars in both state and federal grants, as well as tax incentives, to complete the project.

Public Blowback Threatens Michigan Electric Vehicle Battery Production

July 19, 2023July 18, 2023 The Center Square

Michigan residents leery of manufacturing electric vehicle batteries in their respective backyards are watching two court cases filed on their behalf of in Marshall and Mecosta County.

On Monday, a legal demand letter challenged the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Renaissance Zone designation for the Gotion battery plant outside Big Rapids. A Calhoun County judge is expected to issue a ruling next week on whether to cease development on the Blue Oval Battery Park in Marshall during litigation related to alleged zoning violations.

After $1.7B Taxpayer Subsidy, Ford to Lay Off Workers

June 27, 2023June 26, 2023 The Center Square

After Michigan taxpayers gave $1.75 billion for Ford’s Marshall electric vehicle factory, the company will lay off workers.

Michigan gave the money under the promise of creating 2,500 jobs, but the company cut 3,000 jobs last summer and expects a $3 billion loss on EVs in 2023. After those job cuts, a Ford spokesman said the company has nothing to announce.

Committee Says Prospective Michigan Plant’s Farmland Purchase Not in Its Jurisdiction

June 15, 2023June 14, 2023 The Center Square

Local and national efforts to stymie the building of an electric vehicle battery components plant in Michigan were dealt another setback on Tuesday.

The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment declared that the purchase of farmland in Big Rapids by Gotion was not within its jurisdiction. Opponents of the $2.4 billion plant have protested ties by its parent company to China and raised concerns about the environment.

Critics Cite Conflict of Interest in Questioning Whitmer’s Appointment

May 1, 2023April 30, 2023 The Center Square

On Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer named The Right Place president and CEO Randy Thelen to the Michigan Strategic Fund board.

Hundreds Protest Chinese-Owned Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Michigan

April 25, 2023 Admin

Hundreds of people protested against a Chinese-owned electric vehicle battery plant being constructed in northern Michigan due to concerns about national security.

“How many abuses have we seen over the years from China? And to think that they will set up a battery factory in our state and they will just play by the rules? That makes no sense whatsoever,” Michigan Republican Chair Kristina Karamo said at the protest Saturday, NewsNation reported.

Michigan Democrats Approve $175 Million in Taxpayer Funds to Chinese-Owned Company

April 22, 2023April 21, 2023 Admin

Michigan Democratic lawmakers authorized taxpayer funding for a Chinese-backed project Thursday, prompting criticism from state residents at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Lawmakers approved $175 million in public funding for Gotion to construct an electric vehicle battery factory in Big Rapids, Michigan. However, the public expressed worries due to China-based parent company Gotion High-Tech having corporate bylaws establishing a Communist Party of China (CCP) Committee within the company; every committee Republican and three Democrats voted against it, but the measure passed with a 10-9 vote.