We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the skyscrapers of American prosperity. Now, we are a top state for automotive manufacturing and the No. 1 automotive exporter in the U.S. That’s why it’s no surprise that our state is quickly becoming a hub for one of the most important industries of the future — electric vehicles.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about our economic future, national security and keeping America globally competitive. Electric vehicles are no longer a “green industry.” They are a strategic industry – the big game we can’t afford to lose.
Right now, the Chinese Communist Party is pouring billions into dominating the global EV market. They’re building the cars, the batteries, and the supply chains – not to save the planet, but to control this strategic industry of the future.
China’s automakers are expected to account for nearly a third of the entire global auto market by 2030, according to Bloomberg. When it comes to EVs, China already accounts for nearly two-thirds of global sales.
History has taught us that today’s innovation leads to tomorrow’s success. If America sits on the sidelines, we’re not just giving up market share. We’re surrendering our economic and technological leadership for the future. China’s investment and innovation in EV automaking will lead directly to domination of critical industries such as generative AI and quantum computing.
We can’t let that happen. Competing in this space is not optional – it’s essential to our economic security and sovereignty.
Alabama’s automotive manufacturers are responding. Since 2020, more than $2.1 billion has been invested in EV-related projects in Alabama, creating nearly 2,500 new jobs. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Tuscaloosa County is producing all-electric SUVs like the EQS and EQE with a nearby battery plant in Bibb County and a $1 billion investment driving their EV production.
Hyundai is also producing electric and hybrid models in Montgomery, backed by a $300 million investment, and its supplier Hyundai Mobis is building a $205 million EV battery module plant expected to bring up to 400 new jobs to the region. Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT), the state’s workforce development agency, is constructing a $30 million training center in Decatur focused on electric vehicles and emerging technologies.
From EV charging technicians to parts development specialists, these careers are taking root here and supporting families.
The free market works best when we have the infrastructure and the competition to give people real options. Today’s investments in EVs expand choice, empower consumers, and promote American-made energy.
We’ve seen what happens when we rely too heavily on critical things like foreign oil and foreign chip-making. It leaves us vulnerable on the global stage. EVs give us a path toward greater technological and energy independence, powered by tech and electricity made right here at home.
As a conservative pro-growth legislator, I’m proud to support industries that make America stronger and our state more prosperous. In Alabama, we understand what it means to build, but we also understand what it means to build a legacy of winning.
EVs are not a fad or political statement. They are the next step in Alabama’s legacy of manufacturing success and a critical component in the future of our security as a nation.
Mike Shaw represents Alabama’s 47th district in the Alabama House of Representatives.
