LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer is applauding bipartisan efforts in Congress to ban the making, importing, and selling of vehicles connected to China. However, Whitmer had no problem opening Michigan’s doors to the now defunct China-based Gotion project in Big Rapids, and two unnamed megasite projects in Clinton County and Genesee County.
Whitmer released a statement on Tuesday supporting the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026. The act names adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran and prohibits vehicles coming into the U.S. from a “foreign adversary.” In addition, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) co-sponsored the Connected Vehicle Security Act on Monday, while Representatives John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) and Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) took up the House version on Tuesday.
Whitmer emphasized national security concerns in her statement as well. “The software in these vehicles can use data gathering to supply China with countless pieces of information about Americans,” Whitmer said.
What’s alarming is that Whitmer threw Michigan’s doors wide open to a foreign adversary when she allowed Chinese-backed Gotion to set up shop in Big Rapids to produce EV batteries. Hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer incentives for the company couldn’t counter the pushback from the community and the company’s eventual default that permanently shelved the project.
In addition, three companies have backed out of a megasite project in Genesee County’s Mundy Township. A similar project fizzled in Clinton County.
