Mich. • 2018 • PlanetM

Michigan’s mobility organizations, communities, educational institutions, research and development groups, startups and government agencies have come together under one umbrella to advance a shared objective: making the state the global leader in the next generation of transportation mobility.

“As the transportation industry evolves, our state’s influence will continue to shape the way the world moves,” said former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder when PlanetM was launched in 2016.

Since then, PlanetM has drawn upon the state’s auto industry dominance and legacy of innovation to put Michigan’s technology and mobility companies front and center and to connect these companies with the resources they need to develop and deploy mobility technologies driving the future.

This leadership includes meeting with key industry influencers at premier global events like the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Detroit’s North American International Auto Show and the Washington Auto Show — held in Washington, D.C. PlanetM also participated in the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) World Congress (Montreal in 2017 and Copenhagen in 2018); co-sponsored the ITS America annual meeting held in Detroit in 2018; and facilitates numerous summits and matchmaking events throughout the state for businesses interested in connecting with Michigan’s vast mobility ecosystem.

At ITS World Congress 2017, PlanetM released the Center for Automotive Research’s “Future Cities: Navigating the New Era of Mobility” report in partnership with Michigan transportation and mobility leaders. It highlighted the benefits of innovative mobility services and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies for urban communities as well as small, rural communities in the state.

“In order to ensure Michigan remains a leader in the connected and automated vehicle revolution, we must arm our communities with the knowledge they need to develop a vision for tomorrow’s infrastructure, neighborhoods and transportation systems,” says Tony Kratofil, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) chief operating officer and chief engineer.

At the 2018 ITS America conference in Detroit, state officials addressed topics such as intelligent mobility, smart cities and communities, cybersecurity development and more.

The PlanetM initiative reaches well beyond the state as leaders in Michigan and Ontario have agreed to work together to compete with other regions with a large automotive presence, such as the southeastern U.S. and Mexico, as well as the rest of the world. The effort will include research and development of CAVs, alternative fuels like hydrogen fuel cells, supply chain integration, workforce development and regulatory policy. The aim is to leverage and expand the existing base of suppliers, manufacturers, research and testing facilities and labor force along the 500-mile corridor that runs from Detroit to Ottawa.

The state also collaborated with Canada on the first cross-border demonstration of two autonomous driving vehicles in 2017. Presented by automotive suppliers Continental and Magna International Inc., the cars crossed through the tunnel from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, before going north to Sarnia and returning to Michigan via the Blue Water Bridge.

Another aspect of the PlanetM mission includes providing companies with the technical services, development support and access to the state’s resources — including vehicle testing platforms and capital — to further their business in Michigan and as part of the PlanetM ecosystem.

Some of this work happens at the PlanetM Landing Zone in Detroit, a physical space designed to serve as the hub where member startups can engage with Michigan’s traditional automotive industry to connect, share and collaborate on all aspects of next-generation mobility. One of these startups is Dubai-based DERQ, which develops artificial intelligence-based sensors to predict vehicle and pedestrian incidents. (See related story on page 62.) Through a partnership with PlanetM, DERQ was able to test its technology in a realworld setting by installing smart traffic signals in Detroit that can communicate with CAVs.

“Whether you’re a startup, a large tech company or maybe a traditionally non-automotive company but want to get into automotive — Michigan has it all,” says Trevor Pawl, PlanetM group vice president. “This is the place to be.

“PlanetM provided DERQ a grant for instrumenting an intersection, and we made that happen in downtown Detroit. They got an incentive for deploying signals right there at Jefferson and Griswold.”

This type of successful collaboration has laid the groundwork for PlanetM’s new PlanetM Startup Grants. Announced in June 2018 and funded by MEDC, these grants are separated into two categories — testing grants and pilot grants — and encourage mobility startups around the world to test their technologies on Michigan roadways or at Michigan’s state-of-the-art testing facilities.

“If you’re able to prove your technology, we want it to be out in the real world and help put together the pilot programs,” says PlanetM Director Seun Phillips.

Testing technology at University of Michigan’s Mcity proved to be crucial for France-based NAVYA, which launched its 100 percent autonomous, driverless and electric shuttle in 2015. Collaborating with MEDC and Ann Arbor SPARK, NAVYA opened a plant in Saline to serve its growing North American market.

NAVYA became an affiliate member of Mcity, testing its LiDAR and GPS localization technology to navigate autonomously at the facility. In 2018, the NAVYA driverless shuttle was launched as a research project on University of Michigan’s North Campus. The shuttle now transports U-M students, faculty and staff at the school’s North Campus Research Complex.

“Strong government and community support for mobility initiatives combined with an excellent talent pool provide the ideal environment for our expansion in North America,” NAVYA CEO Christophe Sapet said when the project was announced.

The PlanetM ecosystem continues to expand as businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs looking to shape the next transportation frontier are choosing Michigan. Recently, Michigan’s autonomous vehicle supply chain got a boost when Wabco — a global leader of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles — announced plans to establish its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills. A state grant provided support for the project, which is expected to generate a total capital investment of $19.7 million and create 87 jobs.

PlanetM also aided in the expansion of Mahindra Automotive North America’s new North American headquarters, part of a $230 million investment in southeast Michigan that also includes a warehouse and logistics operation in Pontiac and an existing prototype operation in Troy. By 2020, additional Mahindra projects are expected to result in 400 more jobs and another $600 million in local investment.

In addition, American Haval Motor Technology LLC — a subsidiary of Great Wall Motor Co., China’s largest manufacturer of SUVs — is opening a new research and development center in Farmington Hills. The company plans to invest $3.5 million and create 150 jobs, receiving a $1.5 million state grant.

These are a few of the many transportation mobility assets Michigan has cultivated throughout the state. Together through PlanetM they have created a unified, all-encompassing initiative that is continuing to expand Michigan’s role as the auto capital of the world into the global leader in mobility technology for years to come. •

Launched the AutoMobili-D conference as part of the North American International Auto Show, featuring more than 180 brands ranging from automakers to suppliers and tech startups to universities and government organizations.

Promotes and partners with the ACM, the 500-acre, nonprofit testing, education and product development facility and testing and proving ground located at the historic Willow Run site. ACM enables the safe validation and certification of new vehicle technology, featuring a high-speed loop, double overpasses and off-road, urban, rural, residential and commercial environments.

Highlights and coordinates with Mcity, the University of Michigan’s 32- acre advanced mobility R&D center for testing connected and autonomous vehicles and technologies under controlled, realistic conditions. Mcity includes about 16 acres of roads, traffic infrastructure and obstacles such as construction barriers; collaborates with 60 industry partners; and has invested $20 million in vehicle research and development, testing more than 1,500 vehicles.

Launched the PlanetM Landing Zone to connect mobility startups with the state’s auto industry. Located in downtown Detroit, the Landing Zone is headquartered at WeWork, a shared workspace for technology startups, entrepreneurs, small businesses and large enterprises.

Offers startup grants to encourage mobility startups to test their technologies on Michigan roadways or at Michigan’s state-of-the-art testing facilities. For more information, visit: www.planetm.com/grants.

Mich. - 2018

PlanetM

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