MiMfg Magazine December 2019 | Page 20

20 MiMfg Magazine @ December 2019 MFG Work What’s Happening in Michigan Manufacturing Elk Rapids Engineering Hosts Key Policymaker State Representative Triston Cole visited Elk Rapids Engi- neering, a subsidiary of 69-year MMA member Star Cutter Company, in late October. During the visit, Representative Cole discussed a variety of priority issues with local manu- facturers, including: • The State Budget and ongoing negotiations between the Republican- led Legislature and the Whitmer Administration • Impact of the Governor’s line-item veto on the state’s Going PRO Talent Fund • Manufacturing Day and the positive influence it has on the future of the industry and the relationships it’s building with local educators to help assist with promotion of skilled trades as a successful job path • The impact of tariffs on Michigan manufacturers MMA can help members connect with their local elected officials. Contact MMA’s Brianna Mills at [email protected] or 517-487-8523 to get started. Jumpstart Your Global Development Plans The Michigan Economic Development Corporation will host ExporTech programs in Greater Detroit and Lansing in 2020. ExporTech is a structured export strategy development process that helps companies accelerate growth in global markets and includes three full-day workshops. State Representative Triston Cole (third from right) visited Elk Rapids Engineering to discuss priority issues with local manufacturers in October. Programs will be offered: • Detroit on 1/24/20, 2/28/20 and 4/17/20; more info: [email protected] • Lansing on 2/21/20, 3/20/20 and 4/24/20; more info: [email protected] Learn more about competing on a global scale in the July 2019 issue of MiMfg Magazine at mag.mimfg.org . FCA and Groupe PSA Merge to Create World’s Fourth Largest OEM The Boards of FCA and Peugeot S.A. (PSA) will work toward a full combination of their respective businesses by way of a 50/50 merger. The combined entity would create the fourth largest global OEM in terms of unit sales, with 8.7 million vehicles sold annually. In a rapidly changing environ- ment, with new challenges in connected, electrified, shared and autonomous mobility, the combined entity would leverage its strong global R&D footprint and ecosystem to foster innovation and meet these challenges with speed and capital efficiency. “This convergence brings significant value to all the stake- holders and opens a bright future for the combined entity,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of the venture. “I’m pleased with the work already done with Mike [Manley] and will be very happy to work with him to build a great company together.” According to a joint release, 80 percent of the merger could be achieved after four years without any plant closures. “I’m delighted by the opportunity to work with Carlos and his team on this potentially industry-changing combination,” said Mike Manley, FCA CEO. “We have a long history of successful cooperation with Groupe PSA and I am convinced that together with our great people we can create a world-class global mobility company.” FCA has a successful history of merging companies with disparate cultures to create strong leadership teams and organizations dedicated to a single purpose. Since the merger of Fiat and Chrysler in 2009, the company has committed nearly $14.5 billion in new investments and created close to 30,000 new jobs in the United States. For more information, go to https://media.fcanorthamerica.com.