Marc Shulman helping to bring Changfeng to U.S.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- Changfeng Motor Company of China wants to start up operations in Michigan.

A former state lawmaker, attorney Marc Shulman, is working with the Chinese to make it happen. He told 24 Hour News 8 the company is visiting cities in Michigan to possibly locate an auto plant here.

"They are interested in making Michigan an opportunity for them to build vehicles or assemble the vehicles here. Yes, absolutely," Shulman told 24 Hour News 8. "They looked in the Grand Rapids area, and they've been in Kalamazoo and through much of southeast Michigan as well...Detroit area, Flint area, Saginaw area."

As far as what kind of vehicle Changfeng would build in the United States, Shulman said, "A car that has strong fuel economy, that's reliable, and also, you know, is green, in terms of the environment."

24 Hour News 8 broke the story that Changfeng is in talks with Peter Cook of Grand Rapids, a well-known foreign auto distributor. The Chinese company wants Cook and his team to help bring its vehicles to the U.S.

"The discussions have centered around Cook Holdings actually providing the distribution channels, setting up potentially the dealerships, the warranty, and things of that nature that would be needed to have a successful North American operation," said Shulman.

"It's questionable whether or not the cars will actually be able to be manufactured here in the United States by 2010 but certainly to be able to be final assembled here and then to be sold, it certainly is a possibility. But you're probably looking at a few years further out than that."