Downriver Today

A prominent North American vehicle charging network manufacturer has announced that they are developing a facility in Auburn Hills.

Louis Tremblay, chief executive officer of FLO, joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in making the announcement last week, a recent press release from the governor’s office said. 

Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the State of Michigan, noted that Michigan is a great location for electrical vehicle companies wanting to change the world. 

“We offer customer proximity, a strong supply chain, a talented workforce, commitment to innovation and aggressive programs to rollout charging infrastructure,” Pawl said in the release. “We are honored to have FLO, one of the most exciting charging companies in the world, join our mobility and electrification industry as they expand their presence across North America.”

The $3 million project will be FLO’s first-ever operations facility in America, the release said. It will create 133 jobs when it opens in 2023 as Michigan continues to ramp up its electric vehicle endeavors.

“We are proud to welcome FLO to Michigan and serve as the home for their very first manufacturing facility in the United States,” Whitmer said in the release. “As we look toward growing our economy, investing in our workforce, and creating good-paying jobs, we know the importance of leading the transition to electric vehicles. FLO’s presence in Oakland County builds on our tradition of automotive manufacturing with an eye toward our electrified future. This announcement is the latest in a series of recent, major investments in Michigan’s economy, and I could not be prouder that the world’s manufacturing leaders know Michigan is the place to be.”

The company received an $800,000 grant from the Michigan Business Development Program for the project, the release said. FLO will eventually manufacture 250,000 EV chargers for the U.S. by 2028. The Auburn Hills facility is expected to add a total of 730 jobs to the state in that time frame.

“The opening of this U.S. facility marks a new chapter in FLO’s efforts to support EV adoption across North America,” Tremblay said in the release. “Our team brings over a decade of experience at all levels in the EV charging industry to the U.S. market. From manufacturing and installation to charger maintenance – we are a part of the charging process every step of the way. We look forward to getting to work here in Michigan and continuing our mission of fighting climate change by accelerating EV adoption.”