Given its status as the Global Epicenter of Mobility, it should be a surprise to no one that the Detroit Region remains the North American leader (#1) for vehicle production by producing more than 1.7 million vehicles annually and 16 models, including five EVs.
However, the same innovation that makes the 11-county Detroit Region a mobility leader has appeal for a variety of industries – including clean energy, artificial intelligence, and others.
Here are 10 statistics that demonstrate why advanced manufacturers should look no further than the Detroit Region for their upcoming expansion projects.
- The Detroit Region is home to more than 290,000 advanced manufacturing jobs and more than 8,000 businesses operating in the industry sector. That’s a hub of activity that continues to draw investment from around the world.
- Detroit is one of the top national locations for robotics. In fact, it is the No. 1 spot in the U.S. for deployed industrial robots with more than 18,000 robots – which places the Region at the forefront of advanced manufacturing innovation.
- Metro Detroit ranked in the top ten metros for artificial intelligence and machine learning patents issued at more than 1,000 patents in 2023. This reflects a level of innovation that has broad application beyond just the traditional motor vehicles that earned the moniker “The Motor City.”
- Michigan ranks in the top ten for clean energy job growth and continues to carve out a major national role in achieving a clean-energy future. The state had over 120,000 clean energy jobs in 2023, with the Detroit metro area accounting for a significant portion of these jobs.
- Michigan also ranked No. 3 in the country for clean energy projects with 18 in 2022, which led to more than $9 billion in new investment. Innovation in this space continues to attract investment and innovators.
- Anchored by the Detroit Region, Michigan is the No. 1 state for venture capital investment growth – seeing an increase of more than 855% of this type of investment from 2016-2021. The state and Region are poised to lead the innovation economy.
- Metro Detroit ranks No. 3 for tech talent cost versus quality among the top U.S. tech markets in 2023. Meaning the Region offers a talented workforce that won’t break the bank and allows companies to take their product from concept to consumer all in one metro area.
- The Detroit Region had more than 224,000 production workers in 2023. It is known for its specialty manufacturing talent ranking the #1 location for the following occupations: Assemblers and Fabricators, Tool and Die Makers, Mechanical Engineers, and Industrial Engineers. Translation: We can build anything here, but we can do so much more.
- The Detroit Region is also one of the fastest growing markets for tech talent as our workforce continues to evolve to meet the need for more technical skillsets in advanced manufacturing. The Region had 87,000 tech workers in 2023, including: software developers, computer specialists, computer analysts, computer and IT managers, and other computer-related occupations.
- We also offer the space to innovate. The Detroit Regional Partnership’s Verified Industrial Properties program features an online searchable database with over 50 properties of ten acres or more that present good development opportunities.
For more statistics and resources, please visit the Detroit Regional Partnership’s advanced manufacturing industry cluster map. To learn more about locating in the Detroit Region, contact our business development team.
