Do more in less time. Arrive at destinations quicker and safer. Improve work-life balance. These wants have fueled thousands of years of invention and progress, including the advent of the horse-drawn carriage, automobile, rocket ship and Internet.
Today’s mobility innovations have experts predicting solutions with near-future technology previously seen only in science fiction. Consider:
- Safer roads that adjust based on vehicle communications and traffic patterns, dramatically reducing the number of auto-related fatalities;
- Pods that deliver a person from one destination to another; and
- Integrated technologies that would predict when a household will run out of certain supplies and replenish them before homeowners even know they’re needed.
“We are seeing the realization of artificial intelligence taking over tasks that are really human driven. That’s going to be pushed forward at the leading edge by the automotive industry,” said John Verboncoeur, associate dean for research at Michigan State University. “We’re going to see it in your kitchen and in your laundry room and in every stage of your life.”
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
What happens when 15 government, business and academic leaders come together in one room to talk car-sharing and connectivity? A powerful snapshot of the state of mobility in Michigan. Planet M, a brand created by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and leading automotive thought leaders to position the state as the epicenter for mobility, and Crain Content Studio, the custom publishing division of Crain’s Detroit Business, gathered these experts for a roundtable discussion at Crain Communications in Detroit on April 28, 2017. Crain’s Publisher Ron Fournier moderated the conversation.
Roundtable participants:
- Anya Babbitt
- William Buller
- Laurel Champion
- Mark de la Vergne
- Carrie Morton
- Jessica Robinson
- Ted Serbinski
- Colin Goldsmith
- Craig Hoff
- Kevin Kerrigan
- Peter Kosak
- Kirk Steudle
- Nicole Stevenson
- Glenn Stevens
- John Verboncoeur
IHS Automotive, an online source for engineers, estimates that between now and 2035, nearly 76 million vehicles with some level of autonomy will be sold globally. Michigan accounts for nearly $60 billion of the $3 trillion global auto industry. Yet, experts say if approached correctly, the state, also known for its mounting number of high-tech hubs, may find itself at the epicenter of a $10 trillion mobility industry.
Keeping this potential at the forefront, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., through Planet M, is supporting various elements in mobility technology, such as robotics in manufacturing and other outgrowths of this artificial intelligence capability.
“The economic opportunity and necessity for Michigan to play in that personal mobility and shared-use economy is absolutely essential to our future,” said Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto, an economic development initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber.
The key to Michigan’s future success? Those in the mobility space must acquire an understanding of societal and legal ramifications, properly build upon Michigan’s automotive history to create a far-reaching mobility ecosystem and continue to grow the state’s highly skilled talent base. Moreover, experts agree collaboration is essential — not just between Michigan automotive and tech companies but with public and private entities inside and outside of the state.
