According to the Oregonian, Adidas is considering the establishment of a factory in Detroit to make sneakers for the North American market. The rumor, which could not be confirmed, follows a statement by Nike that it would create 10,000 jobs in the U.S. if the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Vietnam and other Asian countries is passed. In comparison, New Balance employs 1,300 people at five U.S. plants for the manufacture of four million pairs annual, corresponding to one-quarter of its U.S. deliveries. Adidas is already working on a government-supported “Speedfactory” project in Germany, using robotics and 3D manufacturing. The company plans to use this kind of factories to accelerate time to market, particularly for its Neo range of shoes.

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