German Charging Firm EcoG to Locate Headquarters in Detroit
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A German electric vehicle charger company plans to invest $14.4 million to establish its American headquarters in Detroit.
The Michigan Strategic Fund awarded EcoG a $1.5 million grant Jan. 23 to support the investment. EcoG, which provides electric vehicle direct current charging technology to more than 30 automakers, expects to create 45 new jobs at its Michigan facility.
Jeremy Webb, managing director at the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said this project will position Michigan as a leader in automotive technology and electric vehicle charging equipment.
“By approving this project, we are saying to the world that Michigan stands unmatched in its supportive and collaborative ecosystem for the future of electric vehicle technology,” he said.
EcoG charging stations represented about 15% of the European Union market share at the end of 2022, a project memo said. The company is now hoping to expand into the American market with its investment in Michigan.
The project will be located at the Book Depository Building in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood near Michigan Central Train Station. Ford Motor Co. purchased the historic train station in 2018 with plans to transform it into the Michigan Central Innovation District — a 30-acre campus for entrepreneurs, workforce development and a testing site for new technologies. It’s also home to the first mile of self-charging electric vehicle roadway in the country.
Joerg Heuer, CEO and co-founder of EcoG, said the company is excited to collaborate with the Michigan Central Innovation District.
“Right now there is unprecedented momentum behind the EV transition in the U.S. EcoG’s solutions are acting as the catalyst for manufacturers in the U.S., making it simple to introduce American-built products into the EV charging market and transforming the EV charging landscape across the country. We’re excited to contribute to this next phase from our new office in Detroit,” Heuer said.
This investment will support other efforts to establish Michigan’s electric vehicle infrastructure.
Michigan was recently awarded an $8 million federal grant to install electric vehicle charging stations throughout Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. The state also partnered with Canada last year to develop an 860-mile electric vehicle corridor that stretches from Kalamazoo, Mich., to Quebec City in Canada.
The Michigan Strategic Fund on Jan. 23 also backed an electric vehicle battery assembly plant with a $12.6 million incentive package. Fortescue, an Australian mining and global clean energy company, is investing $210 million to redevelop a vacant Detroit auto plant.
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