Luke Meerman, Michigan State Representative for 89th District | Michigan House Republicans
Luke Meerman, Michigan State Representative for 89th District | Michigan House Republicans
State Representative Luke Meerman has responded to the State of Michigan's decision to place Gotion, Inc. in default on its agreement to build a battery component factory in Mecosta County. The company, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was awarded a taxpayer-funded incentive through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) program in 2023. The proposed project was valued at $2.4 billion and had been approved for $175 million in public funds.
Meerman stated, “Finally holding Gotion accountable is a big win for Michigan and taxpayers across the state. Residents from across Mecosta County and the state responded in alarm when they learned a company aligned with the Chinese Communist Party was making plans in their community. What resulted is a hallmark tale of the will of the people who opposed the development every step of the way.”
He added, “The CCP remains one of America’s greatest adversaries and we as a state must scrutinize every use of taxpayer dollars to ensure we do not open the door to enterprises unaligned with the America we cherish and our way of life here. We need better oversight and transparency when these proposals are considered. This marks the end of one of the greatest misuses of Michigan taxpayer dollars.”
Meerman criticized both Gotion’s selection for state incentives and called for repayment: “The state made the right decision here, but selecting Gotion for this proposal was an outright mistake. The taxpayers paid $23.6 million to prepare for this project and every cent wasted must be paid back. If this was an overpaid unemployment bill, the state would be clawing down recipients’ doors, so the same standard must be applied here.”
On October 23, 2025, after Gotion failed to meet its commitments under its agreement with Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced that it had terminated its contract with Gotion.
Representative Meerman has been active among House Republicans seeking to limit foreign influence within Michigan.
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