At that meeting, state and local officials learned that the plant, formerly GM Ovonic, had just been acquired by the joint venture formed by German Robert Bosch and Korean Samsung.
On Tuesday, state development officials were expected to offer incentives designed to convince the new owners to continue to operate the plant off North Pioneer Boulevard — where nickel metal hydride batteries are manufactured — or modify it for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries favored by SB LiMotive.
Company officials said they were probably months from a decision.
“I would like to avoid any speculation that a decision is close. To my understanding, this will take weeks, probably months to come to a solid and accurate decision,” spokesman Christian Fronek said in an e-mail from Bosch headquarters in Michigan.
While emphasizing its interest in establishing an American footprint through the Cobasys acquisition, SB LiMotive has indicated plans to manufacture the lithium-ion batteries in Korea and Germany.
Local officials are concerned Ohio will lose out to Michigan, where Cobasys is headquartered.
“There’s a collaborative effort to keep that work in Ohio,” said James Winship, president of IUE-CWA Local 755, which represents union workers at the plant. “The state of Michigan is trying to take our jobs away.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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