Ford pausing work on $3.5 billion Michigan electric vehicle battery plant | CNN Business
Ford pausing work on $3.5 billion Michigan electric vehicle battery plant CNN
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
Report: Ford Pauses Work on $3.5 Billion Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Michigan
CNN
- Ford is pausing work on a new, $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan.
- The transition to electric vehicles has become a major sticking point in a United Auto Workers strike against automakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis.
Ford spokesman T.R. Reid stated that no final decision has been made on whether the plant will ultimately become operational.
If completed, the plant will be located on a 950-acre site in southern Michigan near the town of Marshall. Ford’s plans were to employ 2,500 people when the plant opened for production in 2026. Ford had announced plans for the battery factory last February.
Reid mentioned that Ford is pausing work and limiting spending on construction on the Marshall project until they are confident about their ability to competitively operate the plant. There are a number of considerations.
It is unclear whether the UAW contract negotiations are among the considerations mentioned.
UAW President Shawn Fain criticized Ford’s decision, calling it “a shameful, barely-veiled threat by Ford to cut jobs.” He emphasized the need for a just transition to electric vehicles.
The union is concerned that the automakers’ plans to shift to all-electric lineups will result in more job losses and smaller paychecks due to the reduced labor required for electric vehicle assembly.
Some politicians have also criticized Ford’s reliance on “Chinese technology” in the factory, although the factory was intended to be owned and operated by Ford alone.
The plant was planned to operate in addition to plants in Kentucky and Tennessee that Ford announced in 2021. Ford aims to produce 2 million electric vehicles globally by late 2026.
Congress passed the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) legislation last year to restructure how EV tax credits are allotted, with a focus on promoting domestic manufacturing and extraction of battery minerals.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- SDG 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
- SDG 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of employees employed in the battery plant (related to SDG 8.5)
- Percentage of employment in the industry sector (related to SDG 9.2)
- Efficiency of resource use in the battery plant (related to SDG 12.2)
- Inclusion of climate change measures in the plant’s policies and planning (related to SDG 13.2)
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | Number of employees employed in the battery plant |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries. | Percentage of employment in the industry sector |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. | Efficiency of resource use in the battery plant |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Inclusion of climate change measures in the plant’s policies and planning |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: cnn.com
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