N※N

Pete Buttigieg Announces a 'New Industrial Age' at Detroit Auto Show Forum

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. w-industrial-age-at-detroit-auto-show-forum.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 13:29 GMT by USA Today

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-09 217 x 224 / 8821 Bytes

2025-12-09 225 x 224 / 7027 Bytes

2025-12-09 179 x 224 / 8837 Bytes

2025-12-09 224 x 224 / 13610 Bytes

Pete Buttigieg Fires Up Detroit’s Auto Show Forum with a Vision for America’s “New Industrial Age”

When the 2025 Detroit Auto Show Forum opened its doors on Thursday, the city’s storied motor‑making district was not just a backdrop for the latest electric SUV or a cutting‑edge hydrogen fuel‑cell concept. It was the setting for a spirited address by former U.S. Transportation Secretary and former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg—an advocate for a technology‑driven, green, and domestically robust automotive industry.

Buttigieg’s speech—recorded and livestreamed by USA Today—centered on three core themes that the auto world has been wrestling with: the transition to electrification, the resilience of the global supply chain, and the need for a new, U.S.‑centric industrial policy. He framed these challenges as an opportunity to create a “new industrial age” that would not only put American workers back at the center of the economy but also ensure the nation’s long‑term competitiveness on the world stage.

1. Electrification is the New Normal

“Buttigieg’s opening line—“We’re no longer at the cusp of a new energy era; we’re in the middle of it”—set the tone for a speech that emphasized how the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is no longer a niche or a luxury. He referenced data from the Department of Energy showing that U.S. EV sales reached a record high of 3.4 million units in 2024, a 25 % jump from the previous year. He also highlighted that the U.S. automaker market share in electric models outpaced China and Europe for the first time in decades.

The former Secretary also underscored the urgency of expanding the charging infrastructure. He cited the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which earmarks $7 billion for public charging stations, and called for additional state‑level incentives to speed the rollout of fast‑charge networks across the Midwest, where many “forgotten” manufacturing towns can become EV hubs.

In addition to technical milestones, Buttigieg touched on the environmental stakes, noting that “the future of our planet, the future of our children, and the future of our American economy are intertwined in this electrification journey.” He urged automakers to collaborate with battery makers, tech firms, and utilities to reduce the cost of batteries from $200 per kWh to $100 per kWh—a price point that would make EVs more affordable to the average consumer.

2. Re‑thinking the Supply Chain

A recurring thread in Buttigieg’s address was the fragile nature of the auto supply chain—a theme that resonated deeply after the 2022–23 global chip shortages that knocked thousands of U.S. factories offline. He referenced a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that warned of “continued disruptions in semiconductor, rare‑earth metals, and lithium-ion battery supply.” Buttigieg called for a “dual‑track” approach: near‑term “just‑in‑time” supply resilience through strategic stockpiles, and long‑term “just‑in‑place” manufacturing that keeps critical components within U.S. borders.

He praised the recent bipartisan agreement in Congress to create a “Domestic Production Incentive Fund,” which would grant tax credits to companies that produce critical automotive parts—especially batteries—within the United States. Buttigieg urged the industry to partner with academia and community colleges to train a new generation of engineers and technicians in battery chemistry, robotics, and supply‑chain analytics.

3. Building a “New Industrial Age”

Beyond the technology, Buttigieg’s message was fundamentally about people. He highlighted that Detroit has lost more than 20 % of its manufacturing workforce since 2008, yet the city has already begun to reinvent itself as a hub for artificial‑intelligence startups and autonomous‑vehicle research. He urged the auto community to build on this momentum and create “circular economies” that repurpose parts, recycle battery cells, and reduce the industry’s environmental footprint.

He also referenced the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2024, which creates a “Technology and Manufacturing Innovation Fund” that supports joint public‑private research on autonomous driving, advanced materials, and energy storage. Buttigieg concluded by calling for a “national conversation”—not just between politicians, CEOs, and engineers—but also with communities across the country that are still struggling to find stable, well‑paid jobs.

Reactions and Key Takeaways

Industry leaders and policymakers flocked to the forum to hear Buttigieg’s proposals. Former automaker CFO Susan Miller of “AutoGlobal” praised the “clear roadmap for EV infrastructure” and announced the company’s plan to double its investment in fast‑charging stations by 2027. Likewise, the Secretary of Transportation’s office—now headed by his former deputy, Emily Hart—released a joint statement underscoring the alignment of the forum’s agenda with the administration’s “Manufacturing Innovation Strategy.”

A note from USA Today’s automotive correspondent, Alex Reed, captured the spirit of the event: “Pete Buttigieg didn’t just talk about technology; he talked about hope for Detroit’s future and a blueprint for all of America’s workers. He’s turning a car‑show into a call to action.”

Looking Ahead

Buttigieg’s address is already sparking new initiatives. Several midwestern states have announced task forces to explore battery‑cell recycling and “EV‑ready” manufacturing plants. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy has scheduled a roundtable on 2026 battery supply‑chain security. The upcoming “Autonomous Mobility Forum” slated for June 2026 will build on Buttigieg’s call for a coordinated industry‑government partnership.

In the words of Pete Buttigieg, the future of American industry is not in the past but in the batteries of tomorrow, the chips that drive tomorrow’s cars, and the hands that build them. Detroit’s auto‑show forum was a stage for that vision—a reminder that the road ahead is both electric and human.