[roc]

That's the part that's particularly laughable. The auto industry operates largely, if not almost entirely, outside the city limits these days.

Further, why would Google even need their help, let alone pay $20bn to attempt to strong-arm them into some partnership?

Google, should they want to develop their own vehicles, wouldn't need more than one or two plants for years. And there's plenty to go around in SE Michigan. There's no need for legislative sway and they can be had for significantly less than billions of dollars.