Two factories for Stellantis electric vehicles, one of which opened in December, are being dedicated to electric vehicle batteries for car manufacturer Stellantis. Both projects form a $6.3 million dollar investment between it and microchip maker Samsung. Photo by Motor City Electric Co

News Release

KOKOMO — Economic development officials in Indiana are closely watching possible cuts of Biden-era policies encouraging electric vehicle, or EV, production, amid worries over the future of local investments.

In Kokomo, construction of two EV battery factories by StarPlus Energy LLC, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI, is investing $6.3 billion and planning to employ as many as 2,800 full-time employees by the decade’s end.

Despite the potential changes under Trump’s administration, Kokomo mayor stays cautiously optimistic. The factories, set to supply batteries for carmaker Stellantis’ EVs, are continuing as planned — with one production line already in operation. A $7.54 billion federal loan was given to StarPlus energy in December to support the project.

Still, President Trump’s stance on policies like the CHIPS and Science Act, which enabled such funding, has raised questions. Trump’s administration is focused on encouraging domestic manufacturing through tariffs and reduced regulation, which may affect future incentives for EV projects.

Several other large EV investments are planned across Indiana, like a $3.5 billion project in St. Joseph County by General Motors and Samsung SDI to upgrade a Princeton Toyota plant. Though some companies have expressed readiness to to adapt for potential policy changes, local officials in Kokomo remain cautious about the future of these projects.

Experts such as Paul Mitchell, CEO of the nonprofit Indianapolis-based Energy Systems Network, suggest that even if EV policies shift, the battery production facilities could be repurposed for other industries, like data centers or grid storage.

Regardless, Indiana and Trump’s ongoing commitment to domestic manufacturing is expected to keep these projects moving forward, despite uncertainties over federal policy.