This weekend, Foxconn announced a multibillion-dollar investment in Michigan.
According to a recent report from the South China Morning Post, the company is planning a research and development facility dedicated to autonomous vehicle technology.
The news comes on the heels of Foxconn announcing a $10 billion investment in Michigan's fellow Great Lake State, Wisconsin, in a deal worth $3 billion in incentives as well as relaxed environmental regulations to assemble LCD panels. The deal has the potential to add 13,000 jobs to the state, but will only create 3,000 jobs initially.
Foxconn Founder Terry Gou has not yet disclosed the total amount of the Michigan investment, however he was quoted as saying that "automotive development in the U.S. is still more advanced than China." He also expressed an interest in artificial intelligence and deep learning technology. So who knows, maybe Ohio is next.
Michigan has pushed to become a leading destination for autonomous car product development. In December, the state made it legal for companies to test self-driving cars on public roads without a driver or steering wheel. About a week later, GM already had its autonomous cars on the road.
In July, Navya, a French shuttle maker, announced plans to build a 20,000-square-foot facility outside of Ann Arbor to make the company's driverless shuttles. The more than $1 million investment will lead to about 50 new jobs assembling shuttles.