Construction of a proposed electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan has been halted due to an ongoing legal dispute between Gotion Inc. and the township. The company has now temporarily withdrawn its permit application with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) while the case is pending before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Local residents had raised concerns about potential environmental impacts and the companyʼs ties to China.
Investments of 2.3 billion dollars planned
Gotion intended to build a battery cell manufacturing facility in Green Charter Township. The project involved an investment of approximately 2.36 billion US dollars and was expected to create about 2,350 jobs. Production was originally scheduled to begin in January 2026. In August 2023, the township had approved a development agreement with Gotion. Following local elections in 2023, the new council withdrew its support for the project in March 2024, prompting Gotion to sue for breach of contract. In May 2024, the court issued an injunction requiring the municipality to abide by the original agreement. The municipality then appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where a decision is still pending.
