State Launches Michigan Office of Future Mobility, Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification

The state of Michigan has launched the Michigan Office of Future Mobility under the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). In addition, the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification was created to further the state’s leadership in mobility.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing documents on car
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs documents creating the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification during the 2020 MICHAuto Summit in Detroit Feb. 25. // Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office

The state of Michigan has launched the Michigan Office of Future Mobility under the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). In addition, the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification was created to further the state’s leadership in mobility.

The Michigan Office of Future Mobility is charged with leading the strategic coordination of all mobility-related initiatives across economic development, workforce, and infrastructure efforts in the state to secure Michigan’s status as a global leader in autonomous, connected, electric, and shared future mobility.

The office also will also build on the state’s leadership in utilizing public/private partnerships to drive mobility solutions by facilitating increased collaboration between public and private sector partners.

“In the state that put the world on wheels and that’s home to some of the most innovative, driven workers on the planet, we must continue to work to solidify Michigan as a global leader in mobility,” says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “That’s why we’re harnessing our resources in state government to ensure Michigan remains the go-to state to build, test, and deploy the cars of the future. I’m excited to work with leaders in the Office of Future Mobility to build on the progress we’ve seen in the last year and cement our status as a hub for innovation and opportunity in the automotive sector.”

The governor also signed an executive order creating the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, also housed within LEO, to serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and legislature, providing annual recommendations on changes in state policy to ensure Michigan continues to be the world leader in future mobility, including autonomous and connected vehicle technology, electric powertrain technology and charging infrastructure, and workforce development activities within the mobility sector.

Michigan offers, Whitmer argues, an ecosystem that is best positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities being created by future mobility, boasting assets that include engineering talent in abundance; a deep manufacturing heritage; elite research universities; the world’s first public-private partnership dedicated to advancing mobility; and the nation’s most extensive connected infrastructure.

These efforts build on the current successes of the state’s mobility initiatives – including PlanetM, the mobility initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the Michigan Department of Transportation’s ongoing work with automotive industry partners in testing and operations of connected and automated vehicles, and support in the creation of Mcity at the University of Michigan. The Electric Vehicle Charger Placement Optimization project being led by the Michigan Energy Office – by developing and implementing the state’s strategic plan to secure Michigan’s status as a global leader in autonomous, connected, electric, and shared future mobility is another of Michigan’s initiatives.