Waymo chooses unused Detroit factory for autonomous taxi production

The move will revive an American Axle & Manufacturing plant.

Waymo has selected its factory location to build an autonomous taxi assembly facility in Michigan.

The company will repurpose an existing American Axle & Manufacturing facility in Detroit, part of a complex that once employed thousands of workers.

"We will partner with American Axle & Manufacturing to repurpose an existing facility, bringing a workforce back to an area where jobs in the automotive industry were recently lost," Waymo said.

American Axle recently announced plans to close down its last remaining factory in the area, laying off 300 workers. A Hamtramck Review report suggests the closure has been tied to a protracted dispute with the United Auto Workers union. Following a 2008 strike, the company moved its operations to Mexico where it employs 2,700 workers.

"Waymo could have located the world's first 100% dedicated Level 4 autonomous vehicle factory anywhere," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "We deeply appreciate the confidence John Krafcik and the Waymo team are showing in the Motor City."