Business News

Earlier this week in Detroit, representatives from the U.S. automotive industry met with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, along with Mike Downing, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development during the Missouri Partnership’s “Missouri Brunch.”

The brunch highlighted and promoted the future of automotive development in Missouri, where the Kansas City area is currently the second largest automotive trade hub in the country, according to Brookings.

Since 2010, more than $2 billion has been invested in Missouri automotive facilities where Missouri talent drives automotive manufacturing into the future with significant production from Ford and General Motors (GM). In Kansas City many of the Ford F-150 and Ford Transit vans on the roads today are produced. And across the state in Wentzville, every GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado are made, along with the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans.

When asked why businesses should be in Missouri Governor Nixon pointed toward the people who call Missouri home.

“Missouri people are nice people,” said Nixon. “They get up early, they stay late, they take training, and they love to compete. All you need to do is tell a Missouri worker what they need to do to help the company win and they will go out and make it happen.”

The state is home to manufacturing plants for many top models including the 2015 North American Truck of the Year, the Ford F-150 pickup truck, the versatile Ford Transit, and the 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year the Chevrolet Colorado each of which was on display during the brunch, and rides were offered to guests afterwards allowing them to see first-hand the craftsmanship of Missouri’s automotive manufacturing plants.

Governor Nixon also used the brunch as an opportunity to discuss the future of automated vehicles highlighting the technology sector in Missouri while also poking fun at his own need for one of these cars of the future.

“I was asked this morning whether or not I thought people would be able to adjust to these self driving cars, and I told them that I already have a lot of experience with it,” said Nixon jokingly. “As governor I get into my vehicle and get taken exactly where I want to go. So yes I can see how people can adapt to this. On the other hand, now my wife is afraid to ever let me drive again.”

Subash Alias, Senior Vice President of Missouri Partnership, welcomed companies to come and do business in Missouri highlighting the productive, dynamic and dedicated workforce, the stable business environment, and more than 50 years of AAA bond rating.

“The most important thing you’ll have when doing business in Missouri is a team,” said Alias. “We are here with you today and tomorrow, we will be with you at your ribbon cutting and beyond.”

For more information about the Missouri automotive industry visit our website’s Advanced Manufacturing page, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can watch the Periscope on-demand broadcast of the Missouri Brunch on Facebook.