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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswomen Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Julia Brownley (CA-26) today introduced the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Future Act to modernize and expand a program used to build and retool auto factories in the United States. Created in 2007, the ATVM loan program at the Department of Energy has been used in eight states, including Michigan and California, to support domestic automotive manufacturing of advanced light-duty vehicles and component parts.

“We can build a new mobility industry in Michigan and the United States that creates good paying, union jobs and protects our environment, but only if we act now,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Through the ATVM Future Act, we can fortify the domestic supply chain, build EV batteries in this country, and provide domestic manufacturers with the funding necessary to retool factories so that they can bring new cars to our streets. This loan program has a proven track record of success, but it needs to be modernized to meet the demand of today and tomorrow.”

“America is at risk of falling behind our international competitors in the growing zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) market,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “While the light-duty ZEV market has undergone significant growth, the bus and truck market is still in its infancy. If we want to lead and compete with the rest of the world in this burgeoning market and create good paying American jobs, federal support is needed to give medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle manufacturing a necessary boost. Acting now ensures the United States stands above its competitors, which is good for our national economy, job creation, and tackling the climate crisis.”

The ATVM Future Act would expand qualifying applications by broadening the definition to include ultra-efficient vehicles, and light-duty and medium-duty passenger vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles that meet emission standards set by EPA or emit zero-emissions. Additionally, it supports EV battery development, strengthens prevailing wage requirements for workers, modernizes the evaluation of a loan applicant’s prospects of repaying a loan under the program, and reauthorizes the ATVM grant and loan program from FY 2022-2031.