In recent months, car manufacturers worldwide announced plans to transition more vehicles to fully electric. By 2030, more than 40% of vehicle sales are likely to be for electric vehicles. General Motors with five facilities in Indiana and more than 6,400 Hoosier employees, recently pledged to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 and be carbon neutral by 2040.
A new law I supported during the most recent legislative session is a big step in the right direction to ensure our state continues its momentum of being an automotive powerhouse. House Enrolled Act 1168 created the Electric Vehicle Product Commission responsible for assessing Indiana's capability to produce electric vehicles and identifying training needs to help manufacturers and workers transition. This group will also be responsible for determining how the industry could build upon its existing infrastructure and workforce to adapt to these changes. This new law received support from the United Autoworkers Union, Stellantis North America, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, General Motors, and Zef Energy and Battery Innovation Center.
With a growing market for electric vehicles, our workforce and developers need to be ready to pivot operations to keep Indiana's automotive industry thriving and maintain the jobs held by thousands of hardworking Hoosiers.
With this shift, many high-wage positions will become available and require specially trained workers. Hoosiers considering making a career change, reentering the workforce or searching for their first job can skill up for free and take advantage of many advanced manufacturing programs with a Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant. The grant covers tuition costs for those earning a high-value certificate from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. Employers in the manufacturing industry can also apply for training grants offered through Next Level Jobs, which provide $5,000 for each employee who is trained, hired and retained for six months after participating in the program.
Encouraging further development in the ever-expanding automobile industry by bringing stakeholders together to identify new opportunities is an innovative solution to ensure Indiana leads and gets ahead of this inevitable shift toward electric vehicles. This new commission will help the state charge ahead in this in-demand industry and maintain and add more high-paying jobs for Hoosiers.
For more information about HEA 1168, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) represents House District 20,
which includes portions of LaPorte and Starke counties.
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