A new report circulated by environmental and labor groups indicates that clean vehicle technology, including equipment designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions tied to climate change, now supports 288,000 manufacturing and engineering jobs in the United States.
The workers are employed at more than 1,200 factories and engineering facilities in 48 states, according to the report, entitled “Supply Ingenuity II, U.S. Suppliers of Clean, Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Technologies.
These employees produce technology that improves fuel economy for today’s innovative vehicles — everything from more efficient transmissions and turbo-charged engines to lightweight steel and aluminum to electric power steering and regenerative braking systems.
The report also found nine states with 10,000 or more workers building clean, fuel-efficient vehicle technology. In the top five states — Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky — building cleaner vehicle technologies supports nearly 160,000 manufacturing jobs.
(Average new car fuel economy improves in April. For the story, Click Here.)
“Clean vehicle and fuel economy standards are proving that we can create jobs, rebuild manufacturing and protect our environment at the same time,” said Kim Glas, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance.
“Robust, long-term fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards have been critical to the automotive recovery, and remain critical to sustaining it.
Glas said in the future the auto sector can continue to lead the way in rebuilding good American manufacturing jobs, but needs to lead on fuel economy, innovation and investment including putting pa priority on the manufacture of next generation of technology in the U.S.
(Click Here for details about BMW’s plans to combine solar and hydrogen power.)
“The automobile industry has come a long way from bankruptcy to profitability, and strong, long-term vehicle standards are a key part of that story,” said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, chief program officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The council is one of the environmental groups leading the fight against the Trump administration’s efforts to alter fuel-economy regulations. The rollback of 2022 to 2025 standards targeted by Trump are also supported by automakers.
Casey-Lefkkowitz, however, said with innovation and ingenuity, American companies and workers are achieving vital clean air and climate gains that will be felt by generations to come. “The industry must continue to invest in a long-term strategy to drive down harmful greenhouse gas emissions and stay competitive globally,” she added.
The report said three priorities for sustaining a clean automotive recovery that helps rebuild American manufacturing includes tough standards spurring investment in leading technology, sound economic, tax and trade policies to build more of those manufacturing jobs in the U.S., and strong labor standards and worker rights to reverse the downward pressure on living standards of working families.
(Genesis hints at future with hydrogen-hybrid GV80 SUV. For a closer look, Click Here.)
Since the 2008–2009 recession, the auto industry has added nearly 700,000 retail and manufacturing jobs, while simultaneously meeting steadily tightening emissions and fuel economy standards and capturing the market benefits of new leadership in innovation, the report noted.
