Honda’s Ohio EV Hub Highlights Midwest Competition As Michigan Works To Defend EV Leadership

COLUMBUS — Honda’s transformation of Ohio into its primary North American EV hub underscores an intensifying competition across the Midwest — one that puts Michigan’s long-held automotive dominance under pressure, even as the state continues to pour billions into electric vehicle development.

Honda is investing $700 million to retool three Ohio plants and partnering with LG Energy Solution on a $3.5 billion battery facility, positioning Ohio as a focused, vertically aligned EV manufacturing center with production slated to begin in late 2025. The strategy mirrors a broader industry shift toward fewer, more centralized EV hubs as automakers manage slower-than-expected consumer adoption.

Michigan, by contrast, is pursuing a scale-and-ecosystem strategy.

The state has attracted an estimated $25 to $30 billion in EV-related investment, far more than any other Midwest state, supported by the nation’s deepest automotive supplier base and decades of R&D expertise. Programs such as Michigan’s Supplier Conversion Grants aim to help traditional auto suppliers pivot toward EV and battery components rather than exit the market.

But Michigan’s advantage comes with complexity.

Unlike Ohio’s Honda-centered approach, Michigan’s EV footprint is spread across multiple OEMs — GM, Ford, and Stellantis — each adjusting timelines and production plans amid shifting federal policy and market demand. Several high-profile projects have been delayed or scaled back, fueling debate over incentives, land use, and community acceptance.

Still, Michigan remains the center of gravity for Midwest mobility.

The state’s supplier density, engineering workforce, testing facilities, and charging infrastructure goals — including a plan to deploy 100,000 EV chargers by 2030 — give it structural advantages competitors struggle to replicate. More than 27% of Michigan’s economy remains tied to automotive and mobility industries, anchoring its long-term relevance even as EV growth slows.

Ohio’s model offers a contrast: fewer OEMs, fewer suppliers, but clearer alignment between manufacturing, batteries, and workforce retraining. Indiana and Illinois occupy middle ground, with Indiana leaning on cost competitiveness and Illinois relying heavily on Rivian as a single EV anchor.

Industry analysts say the Midwest’s EV race is entering a second phase — less about announcements and more about execution.

“The early EV boom was about who could land the biggest press release,” said one Midwest auto analyst. “The next phase is about who can actually build profitably, train workers, and survive slower adoption.”

For Michigan, that means translating its massive ecosystem into durable EV production — not just investment commitments. For Ohio, it means proving a focused EV hub can scale beyond one automaker.

Either way, the Midwest remains central to America’s EV future — but the balance of power inside the region is still very much in flux.