In rural Tennessee, a small town named Stanton, with a population of just 400 residents and limited amenities, is undergoing a remarkable transformation.
In less than two years, this quiet town is expected to welcome 6,000 new workers, increasing its population by a factor of 15.
This transformation is attributed to the construction of a massive 3,600-acre Ford Motor facility dedicated to manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs).
Stanton’s mayor, Allan Sterbinsky, expressed the overwhelming nature of this change, emphasizing the substantial tasks at hand.
A Southern Phenomenon
Stanton’s story is not unique in the context of America’s electric car revolution.
Various automakers are investing billions of dollars in new manufacturing facilities, with a particular focus on the rural South.
Since 2018, over $110 billion in EV-related investments have been announced in the United States, and nearly half of this sum is being funneled into Southern states, according to data from Automotive Research, a Michigan-based non-profit organization.
Ford’s Stanton facility, named ‘BlueOval City,’ is touted as the most advanced auto production complex in the company’s long history.
Moreover, other manufacturers are establishing factories in states like Georgia and Kentucky, some of which are projected to be the size of 60 football fields.
A Race to Meet Ambitious Goals
These investments are driven by a race among automakers to align with President Joe Biden’s ambitious target of having two-thirds of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2032.
Biden also plans to build a nationwide network of 500,000 EV charging stations.
Analysts draw parallels between the current Southern investment boom and Detroit, Michigan’s role in the early 20th century when it became the epicenter of the automotive industry’s growth.
Southern Attraction for Automakers
In May 2022, Hyundai Motor announced its intention to build an EV assembly plant and battery factory on a vast 3,000-acre site near Georgia’s eastern border, representing a $5.5 billion investment and the creation of 8,100 jobs.
The Southern states’ appeal to automakers extends beyond financial incentives; local governments and technical institutes have worked for years to attract the industry.
Programs like Georgia Quick Start, which manages an employee training center near the Hyundai plant, ensure that a skilled workforce is readily available when production begins.
Additionally, Southern states often enjoy lower energy costs due to shale drilling and increased investment in renewable energies, making them even more appealing to EV manufacturers.
Challenges of Transformation
Converting rural areas into industrial hubs, however, presents significant challenges.
Stanton, for instance, must not only build housing for thousands of new workers but also expand its local school network and potentially establish its first-ever police force, as it currently relies on county law enforcement.
Such complexities underscore the scale of the changes underway.
Consumer Hesitancy
While automakers invest heavily in EV production, consumers remain somewhat hesitant.
Historically, electric vehicles have been seen as expensive, but federal initiatives have worked to lower their costs.
Federal tax credits of $7,500 are available for ten different EV models, with an additional seven qualifying for a $3,750 credit.
However, a recent poll conducted by DailyMail.com suggests that these incentives may not be driving consumer behavior as expected.
Only 29 percent of respondents stated that tax breaks influenced their decision to purchase an EV.
In contrast, 43 percent indicated that such incentives had no impact on their choice, and 15 percent said they were less likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle.
Intriguingly, it appears that households earning over $150,000 are more seriously considering the investment in electric vehicles, signaling potential shifts in the market.