Baruah on Michigan’s EV Journey: Lead or Lag?

• The auto industry that Michigan invented and defined the world with is the most complex and valuable supply chain on the planet, but keeping it is not a guarantee.
• Look at the EV transition from a business or an investor point of view, instead of a political one.

View the full session recording below.

During the 2025 Detroit Policy Conference, Sandy K. Baruah took to the stage to discuss how Michigan should embrace EVs by taking a business-focused approach to what has become a politically charged topic. 

Baruah opened his keynote by reminding the audience about the complexity and value of the global automotive supply chain, making it a highly competitive sector. Reflecting on past transitions, such as those in the 1970s and 1980s, Baruah said that Michigan must avoid previous strategic errors to remain competitive and that maintaining Michigan’s position within this supply chain is crucial and cannot be taken for granted.  

“The auto industry that we invented and defined the world with is the most complex and valuable supply chain on the planet…keeping it here in Michigan is not a guarantee but a necessity,” he said. “Second, legacy industries are often the basis of the next big thing. The aerospace industries of the West Coast spawned the big tech companies we know today. The auto industry can be that basis for us.” 

Baruah continued by mentioning that Michigan faces another pivotal moment with the rise of EVs. Over the past four years, the market has seen an exponential increase in EV offerings, from 12 models to 75, representing a sixfold growth. Further, the U.S. EV market share has surged by 330%. 

“We have to think about what’s coming next, not where we are today,” he said. “It’s safe to say that the strategic error [was something] we never recovered from.” 

Baruah concluded his keynote by urging the audience to approach the discussion around EV manufacturing as a strategic business decision. He emphasized that Michiganders should adopt an “all-inclusive” approach rather than viewing it as an either-or scenario, or else we are doomed to repeat history and make the same industry mistakes we did decades ago. 

“If we’re going to build our innovation ecosystem in large part off of our traditional industry, it’s hard to lead if we don’t have followers,” he said. “So, it’s our choice; we can lead or lag. You’re thought leaders; you can help make that decision.”