The next Senator representing Michigan could shift the balance of power in Washington, and their policies relating to the auto industry, tariffs and electric vehicles could make Michigan’s economic interests pivotal nationwide.

The four main candidates are Abdul El-Sayed, Representative Haley Stevens, State Senator Mallory McMorrow and Mike Rogers. They’re all vying to replace Gary Peters as Michigan’s next Senator.

The domestic auto industry has been on an economic roller coaster. Ping-ponging tariff policies and rollbacks of Biden-era electric vehicle tax rebates have added economic uncertainty to the equation of domestic automakers and parts suppliers.

So, what policies might the next Senator from Michigan bring to Washington?

Molly Boigon is a reporter who covers technology and innovation for Automotive News. She spoke to the four candidates on the Daily Drive Podcast and wrote a piece breaking down where they stand on key automotive economic policies.

 She joined Robyn Vincent to share what she learned about the candidates’ positions on electric vehicles and tariffs.

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Ford Motor Company plans to move out of its world headquarters in Dearborn, but it’s not moving far.

Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Farley announced the automaker’s operations will relocate from the iconic Glass House on Michigan Ave. to a new facility on Oakwood Blvd. across from the Henry Ford Museum.

In a joint statement, Ford and Farley say it’s not just a new building.

“It’s a catalyst for innovation and a physical symbol of our Ford+ transformation,” the executives say.

Ford+ encompasses all the company’s operations, including vehicle production, design, engineering, and innovation.

The Deuce you say!

The new headquarters will keep the old one’s name—the Henry Ford II World Center. The grandson of Henry Ford led the family business from 1945 to 1980.

Bill Ford and Jim Farley say the new building will be twice as large as the Glass House and hold twice as many employees. Some have already moved in during construction.

“Our team is working hard to wrap up construction as hundreds of employees are collaborating in the building already,” the executives say.

The automaker will hold a grand opening at the new facility in November. Construction should be completed in 2027.

An era ends

Ford built the Glass House in 1953 and opened it in 1956. It is one of the most recognizable buildings in Metro Detroit. Ford and Farley say the structure’s age and industry changes necessitated the move.

“The future of our industry demands a different kind of space, one that is more connected, more flexible, and built for the speed of a technology—and software—connected company,” according to their joint statement.

Once the Glass House is empty, crews will demolish it and work with the City of Dearborn to find a new use for it. Demolition will take about 18 months.

For decades, fossil fuel companies championed the idea that climate change is solved through everyday personal habits — change your lightbulbs, recycle more, drive less — while they continued ramping up oil and gas production. BP even popularized the now‑ubiquitous carbon footprint calculator, nudging us into changing our behaviors rather than targeting the sources of the crisis.

A recent study found that people often misjudge which personal choices matter most. Many think recycling is the biggest fix, but it is actually cutting down on long flights, eating less meat, and even deciding whether to own a dog (pets have surprisingly large carbon footprints).

When people were shown the facts, they adjusted their intentions. 

But there is a catch: when climate action was framed only as a personal checklist, participants were less likely to support big collective steps, like voting for climate policy or joining a march.

This tension speaks to the myth of personal responsibility in climate change. 

Naomi Oreskes has written widely about how industries, from tobacco to oil, push this myth to delay real action. She is a professor of the history of science at Harvard University and co-author of the books “Merchants of Doubt” and “The Big Myth.”

She joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss how we can shift the focus back to meaningful climate solutions.

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Detroit is a manufacturing city and with this comes hazardous waste – toxic, reactive, flammable, and corrosive material that’s dangerous to people. 

So what happens to all this hazardous waste? Federal and State Laws require facilities to obtain a license to store, dispose or treat it. 

That includes EQ Detroit Inc., which operates a hazardous waste site in Midtown near the I-94 and I-75 interchange. The company’s license is up for renewal, and not all residents are in support. 

But public sentiment is not the law, said Tracy Kecskemeti at the public informational meeting on Aug. 13. She’s the acting materials management division director for the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy. EGLE is the state regulator that oversees these hazardous waste sites. 

Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke to Detroit Documenters Colleen Cirrocco and Lynelle Herndon to learn more about what community members had to say. The next meeting on this issue is Sept. 4 at Tech Town. 

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Ford is recalling more than 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles because the fuel injector may crack and leak, which may cause a fire.

If fuel leaks inside the engine compartment and there’s a hot engine or exhaust components, it could increase the risk of a fire.

The recall impacts certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines.

Ford has been looking into the fuel injector issue since 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company’s field review committee approved recalls in November 2022, March 2024 and March 2025, during which it performed software updates.

Ford has continued to investigate the issue. As part of the ongoing process, the automaker looked at corrosion as a contributing factor to fuel injector cracks between April and May 2025.

Ford identified injector cracking on eight vehicles that experienced underhood fires. Six of the vehicles didn’t have updated engine control software. The automaker isn’t aware of any injuries related to the fires.

Earlier this month Ford’s field review committee decided to issue a recall for certain vehicles to update their engine control software for free until a final remedy is available.

A letter notifying vehicle owners of the safety risk is expected to be mailed on Aug. 18. A second letter will be sent once the final remedy is available. Vehicle owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 25S76.

The industry for materials key to American manufacturing could receive extra government support under proposed legislation from a Michigan congresswoman.

The bill, called the “Unearth America’s Future Act,” would create new federal loans, tax credits, and programs to spur the domestic production and refining of critical minerals like copper, magnesium and aluminum.

“What this bill is, is focused on public-private partnerships, supply chain opportunities, as well as recyclability, which is something that’s gaining a lot of traction in the critical materials space right now,” U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) said about her pending legislation.

Stevens estimates her plan would invest around $10 billion in the industry. It would cover loans, tax credits, partnerships and the creation of a new national center to oversee research and development.

The policy proposal is a response to concerns about China’s dominance in the market for precious metals, especially those used in goods like smart phones or vehicle batteries.

Stevens said that makes both the country’s and Michigan’s current situations untenable.

“Leaving Michigan’s entire manufacturing base on the hook for materials coming from minerals that are refined in China, that’s a risk. And that’s not working,” she said.

The Trump administration has already issued executive orders aimed at increasing the country’s mining capacity, despite environmental concerns. Separately, existing bipartisan bills in Congress are also trying to address that issue.

Stevens, however, said her way of addressing the matter is by taking a similar approach to how the bipartisan CHIPS Act addressed a shortage of American semiconductor chip makers: increasing the capacity for processing and refining already-mined minerals.

“This will increase our resilience here in the United States of America, but it will also increase our domestic production capabilities, which means lowering costs, lowering costs, lowering costs — we need to lower costs, and that’s what this bill’s going to be about as well. And job creation,” Stevens said.