Gov. Nixon to Attend North American Detroit Auto Show; Meetings with Automotive Companies and Suppliers to be Held

Press Release

Building on efforts that have resulted in more than $2 billion in investments from automotive manufacturers and suppliers, Gov. Jay Nixon this week will join Director Mike Downing of the Missouri Department of Economic Development at the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Mich. This will be the fourth year in a row Gov. Nixon has attended the show and met with leading automotive companies to promote Missouri's burgeoning automotive industry.

"Historic expansions by Ford, GM and suppliers around the state have rocketed Missouri to the top of America's auto manufacturing comeback -- and we're just getting started," said Gov. Nixon. "The Detroit Auto Show is a great opportunity to showcase the award-winning trucks and vans we build, and recruit new automotive investments and jobs to our state."

This trip comes just days after the Missouri-made Ford F-150 pickup was named the 2015 North American Truck of the Year at the NAIAS. Also nominated for this award was GM's Chevrolet Colorado, a mid-size pickup assembled in Wentzville, which was just named the 2015 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. GM's other Missouri-made truck, the GMC Canyon, also recently picked up Autoweek's 2015 Best of the Best truck award. In addition, Ford's all-new Transit van, assembled in Kansas City, finished up 2014 as America's best selling full-size van in November and December.

Gov. Nixon has made strengthening Missouri's once-struggling auto sector a top priority, efforts that have resulted in more than $2 billion in investments by automotive manufacturers and suppliers over the last five years. In Claycomo, Ford has announced the creation of thousands of new jobs as part of a $1.1 billion investment in its Kansas City Assembly Plant, which ended 2014 with more than 6,000 workers. With the recently announced second shift to build the Transit van, the Kansas City Ford plant now has more capacity to build vehicles than any other Ford plant in the world. Since 2011, GM has announced the creation and retention of more than 1,700 jobs and capital investment of $513 million at its Wentzville assembly plant.

Expansions by automakers have led to increased demand for automotive parts, strengthening Missouri's automotive supplier network and providing a significant boost to the state's economy. Since 2010, more than 60 automotive suppliers have added or announced plans to add more than 4,619 new jobs, retain 220 existing workers, and make over $600 million in capital investments. A recent report released by Missouri Economic Research & Information Center (MERIC) found that the expected cumulative contribution from 2010 to 2015 of the retained/new jobs and capital investments made in the automotive industry over the six-year period would support 35,146 jobs this year.

Gov. Nixon's schedule includes business meetings with the leadership of automotive manufacturers and suppliers that have made or are considering significant investments in the state, including Ford and GM. The Governor will travel to Detroit on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and return on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Experience Missouri's automotive industry comeback by viewing an online interactive timeline at governor.mo.gov/auto.

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