Michigan Grants Big Three Automakers Billions in Tax Breaks for New Projects

Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been granted a combined $2.1 billion in tax breaks to invest in 17 new projects in Michigan, the state's economic development agency said Tuesday.

Ford Motor (F) and Chrysler Group are the biggest recipients of the incentives, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority said.

Ford will receive a 15-year credit worth $909 million, with nearly half that amount going toward opening plants and hiring workers, the agency said. Chrysler will receive a 20-year credit worth $1.3 billion to upgrade facilities and add additional shifts at its plants.

Sponsored Links

The board expanded an earlier tax credit granted to GM for a new hybrid electric vehicle battery center. The company will also receive an additional $25 million credit to hire 4,000 employees at its downtown Detroit headquarters.

On Monday, Ford said it would create as many as 1,200 engineering and manufacturing jobs by spending $850 million to upgrade at least four Michigan plants through 2013, in anticipation of the agency's approval of the incentives.

The Dearborn, Mich.-based company reported earlier Tuesday that it earned $1.7 billion in the third quarter, marking its sixth consecutive profitable quarter.