Detroiter Magazine January 2018 Issue by Detroit Regional Chamber

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES DON’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT™ While business leaders focus on taking their companies to new heights, they trust Plunkett Cooney’s determined, distinctive and fearless attorneys to obtain the right results in the boardroom and the courtroom. Banking & Finance Business Transactions Healthcare Law Real Estate Law Construction Law Commercial Litigation Environmental & Energy Law Transportation Law Labor & Employment Law Estate Planning & Business Succession 

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW Thomas P. Vincent, President & CEO 248.594.6777 | tvincent@plunkettcooney.com Michigan | Illinois | Indiana | Ohio

| www.plunkettcooney.com

EnErgizing MiCHigAn’s

Future

ITC operates, builds and maintains the region’s electric transmission infrastructure. We’re dedicated to building the type of reliable power grid that’s necessary to support the growth of electric vehicles in the coming decades.

Building the electric transmission infrastructure that will power the future. www.itc-holdings.com

DETROITER December 2017

Innovating Today with Eyes on Tomorrow Ford Motor Company's Jim Farley and Marcy Klevorn lead automaker's forward-thinking vision for electrification, autonomous vehicles, and the city of tomorrow

12 Michigan Automakers Pave Way for City of Tomorrow Connectivity, ride-sharing and electrification address challenges in dense urban areas

16 In Search of Michigan's Smart Cities

Municipalities strive to be livable as they get more crowded

20 From Motor City to Mobility City

Detroit’s mobility chief discusses his vision for affordable and equitable transit

22 Smart City Solutions: Michigan's Industries Embrace Digital World Energy, telecom and health care are key players in delivering efficient services to communities

24 Get Smart: Michigan’s Companies Spar for Top Tech Talent Automakers and municipalities alter recruiting tactics, seek grassroots solution

26 Speaking the Language of Mobility

Commonly used terms among automotive and technology companies working in the smart city space

28 Lessons From Columbus

How Ohio turned $40 million into $500 million and is on track to become the first smart city in the United States

29 BabyRide: Detroit’s Smart Lifeline for Expectant Moms

Lyft partnership offers free ride-sharing service for low-income pregnant women

30 Technology in Motion: Celebrating Detroit's Innovation Ecosystem The three-day show highlights the region's leadership in shaping connected cars, autonomous driving and mobility solutions

Volume 108, Number 4 Publisher Tammy Carnrike, CCE Managing Editor Megan Spanitz Editor Daniel Lai Photographers Bethany Desmond Melissa Knapp Andrew Potter Courtesy photos Cover Design Melissa Knapp Advertising Director Jim Connarn Advertising Representatives Laurie Scotese Dale Smolinski Custom Publishing and Design Michelle Percival Back Issues 313.596.0391

32 Accelerating Interest in Tech Startups AutoMobili-D and the PlanetM Landing Zone connect OEMs with mobility solutions

34 Changing Automotive Perceptions

MICHauto Summit celebrates the 'cool' culture and careers in the automotive industry

38 Movin' on up

Michigan legislators seek opportunities for advancement

44 In the News

Good things are happening to businesses throughout metro Detroit

Published by Detroit Regional Chamber Services Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission.

Detroiter (ISSN 0011-9709) is published four times a year (Jan, June, Sept and Dec) by the Detroit Regional Chamber, One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1900 PO Box 33840, Detroit MI 48232-0840, Phone: (313)964-4000. Periodical postage paid at Detroit MI Subscription price: members, $14: nonmembers, $18. Individual copies: $4; plus postage. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Detroiter, One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1900, P.O. Box 33840, Detroit MI 48232-0840. Copyright 2007, Detroit Regional Chamber Services Inc.

A BRIGHTER

FUTURE DTE is proud to power The District Detroit. We built a new substation and underground electrical system for the new home of the Red Wings, Little Caesars Arena. We also worked closely with the builders to create and install one of the largest scoreboards in North America. Powering the future is what DTE Energy is all about, including the revitalization of downtown through our partnership with Olympia Entertainment.

DETROITER December 2017

Autonomous Pipe Dream, or Autonomous Dead End? As the future unfolds, next-generation mobility will only improve our lives By Sandy K. Baruah

he self-driving car. It's the hot topic across the globe in the automotive and technology industries – as well as cocktail parties. The number of opinions (and events) on the issue of autonomous vehicles are as long and varied as the Porsche options list. One can understand why. We’ve been promised the selfdriving car since the dawn of the jet age. (We are also promised the flying car, but that’s another story.) Today, that dream of being able to take a nap, check email (legally) or watch a movie on the way to work is apparently on the immediate horizon. Or is it? Some experts are confident that the technology is coming to a driveway near you soon. Ultimate petrol-head Jeremy Clarkson of The Grand Tour believes that the autonomous car will not arrive until we are all passed from the earth. Of all the big picture policy issues the Detroit Regional Chamber is focused on, the advent of the autonomous vehicle is what our team spends the most time on. And while not as expert on this topic as many, I do have thoughts on how the autonomous era will unfold. Proliferation of Semi-Autonomous Features in Your Explorer Just about every vehicle sold today has some form of semiautonomous feature, either standard or available. As more drivers get used to features such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, road sign recognition, etc., they will become seduced into the world of autonomous vehicles. While these features are on more vehicles every day, many drivers don’t know how to use them or turn them off. Not surprising considering many drivers find pairing their phones via Bluetooth a challenge. But this dynamic will change. As drivers see the benefits of these features – and lives are saved – the adoption rate will increase and the demand for more features will occur. As an example, those who have driven the Cadillac CT6 with its semi-autonomous “Super Cruise” feature rave about how it transformed their freeway drives. Super Cruise allows hands- and feet-free driving on major interstates if you keep your attention on the road (a camera is monitoring you). Super Cruise drivers report jumping on I-75

at Big Beaver and not touching the steering wheel or pedals until reaching the Grayling exit. We won't be faced with a stark decision one day of choosing "autonomous" or "driver-operated" vehicles. Autonomy will creep into our lives until the day arrives that we can't imagine life without it. Rollout of Autonomous Vehicles on Public Roads Autonomous vehicle skeptics claim massive confusion will occur when self-driving cars share the environment with driver-operated cars. Critics claim that autonomous vehicles will be too cautious in today’s cut-throat driving environment. Some claim that autonomous vehicles will be “bullied” by driver-operated cars (e.g. not yielding to autonomous vehicles at four-way stops). These critics misunderstand several things about how autonomy will unfold. The first waves of vehicles with some form of autonomy will look just like another new car. Just like today’s CT6 with Super Cruise looks just like the base CT6 that picked you up at LaGuardia last week. These first autonomous vehicles will not be autonomous-only. While they will have self-driving features, the driver will still be able to take control, and in fact, will be required to in certain circumstances. Finally, environments in which autonomous features can be used will be limited at first. We Will Not Be Driving the Generic Pod From ‘Total Recall’ Many, including the great Bob Lutz, believe that the totally autonomous vehicle (Level 5) will result in all of us being shuttled around in generic shared pods with the styling of a Jell-O mold. I disagree. While urban transport will be transformed by the advent of autonomous taxis, style will still matter. There is not an element of our society that is not strongly influenced by style, comfort, and prestige. The future will be no different. While we may spend more time in a generic pod-taxi getting across town, we will still want (or need) a personal mobility conveyance. Unless human nature changes more significantly than I expect, we will still use our vehicles to store everything from sunglasses, golf clubs and Christmas gifts. I am not sure our pack-rat nature will go away with the advent of autonomy. Just as importantly, while we are all fine with one of our errant french fries between our seat, we certainly don’t want somebody else’s. And if we are still going to have a vehicle, we are going to care about what it looks likes, the interior, and the badge on the front. Many fellow car enthusiasts fear the autonomous future. I do not. As this future unfolds, our roads will become more efficient and the potential exists to save up to 40,000 lives annually in America. Just as importantly, it will allow me to have that extra glass of wine at dinner. Sandy K. Baruah is the president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber.

DETROITER December 2017

RISE OF THE SMART

CITY

”If you know how to run your city and people are voting by living in the city, other businesses will want to come and set up shop there ... So a smart city is enabled by technology, for the benefit of the citizens. ” — Rahul Gupta, Principal, Capital Projects and Infrastructure, PwC

s engines of innovation, economic growth and social transformation, cities around the world are growing exponentially. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, 70 percent of the world’s population will reside in urban areas. As government leaders look to solve problems of overcrowding, resource depletion and safety, the public and private sector, together with a growing technology startup ecosystem, are innovating for a connected future replete with Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for energy, infrastructure, mobility, health care, and more. But what comes next for the smart city? How will disruptive innovations shape the city of tomorrow and how is Michigan’s legacy industry transforming to meet this change? How will citizens interact with fresh solutions? One thing is certain — how people move, work and access essential services is rapidly changing, and the cities with the technology, know-how, funding and talent will be better positioned to compete.

“The period we are in promises to unlock as much value and impact lifestyles and landscapes as the automobile did in the very beginning.”— Peter Kosak, Executive Director, Urban Mobility, General Motors

DETROITER December 2017 Ford Motor Company Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets Jim Farley and Marcy Klevorn, Executive Vice President and President of Mobility, at Ford world headquarters in Dearborn.

Innovating Today with

EYES ON TOMORROW

Ford Motor Company’s Jim Farley and Marcy Klevorn lead automaker’s forward-thinking vision for electrification, autonomous vehicles, and the city of tomorrow By Daniel Lai and Glenn Stevens

s innovators go, no company is more in tune with staying in front of the curve than the one that put the world on wheels more than 100 years ago. When Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Hackett, a visionary in his own right, took over the reins of the automaker in May 2017, he knew that to remain relevant in today’s changing industry replete with modern technology, the company needed a forward-thinking strategy — one that embraces the electrified, automated, shared and connected car of the future. Leading that charge are two of Ford’s top strategists: Marcy Klevorn, Executive Vice President and President of Mobility; and Jim Farley, Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets. Klevorn, a fourth-generation employee who bleeds blue, is credited with leading Ford’s global technology strategy, while Farley led the company’s transformation and explosive growth across Europe. The Detroiter recently sat down with Klevorn and Farley to discuss Ford’s evolution to

mobility provider, the “city of tomorrow,” the company’s legacy, and how it all hinges on the race for talent.

innovated a whole ecosystem to make his idea come to life. And of course, central to that was the car.

Henry Ford harnessed mass production and the assembly line to put the country behind the steering wheel of an affordable motor vehicle, helping revolutionize society and manufacturing. How do you see the history and DNA of the company playing a role as you transform from an automotive OEM to a mobility company? Marcy Klevorn: 114 years ago, Henry Ford reinvented and reimagined the manufacturing system in a way that made cars affordable so that the people that built them could buy them. But he didn't stop there. What he did that I think is so germane to what's going on today is he thought about the whole ecosystem. He thought about the manufacturing process. He thought about the five-dollar work day to attract talent that normally wouldn't be attracted to the Detroit area. And then he thought about the need for health care and housing. So, he

If you take that description and apply it to what's going on today, it is an ecosystem problem to solve. The business model of a person buying a vehicle, that one-to-one relationship, will still exist in that we'll still provide cars to people for personal ownership and fleet. But the ecosystem to help solve the challenges that we're seeing in cities around the world, whether it's congestion, or air quality, or emerging middle classes in certain areas and changing consumer demands — it changes the expectation of what people want in their products. You can't do it alone, and you should not just solve one problem. You must think about the impact on all of these factors. That's where I think Henry Ford’s work is so inspirational. What needs to happen in the Michigan ecosystem for Ford to remain a key player in the development of connected and autonomous vehicles?

DETROITER December 2017

Marcy Klevorn: There's a lot of talk right now, which is a pride point for those of us that grew up here, that Detroit might be the next Silicon Valley because it is the center for automotive development in the United States and possibly the world. To build on that, I see a lot of excitement. We work with a lot of outside partners from Silicon Valley that are so excited to be part of the transformation of the industry. They see it as the next big thing that can influence the world, not just vehicles, but transportation as a whole. Michigan could be the epicenter of that, and I think can and will be. Talent will be a huge part — young people, retirees, people who are not native to this area — how you bring all of that together to create a different kind of talent pool is going to be so important. Additionally, you must create an environment that entrepreneurs and business owners want to come and thrive in. How do you make that environment welcoming and profitable for them? Making the regulatory environment friendly is also key, as well as just taking pride in everything that we have here. Finally, we really want Michigan to be the go to place for technology. So, we're working a lot with organizations around the state to get into schools. I’m associated with a group called Michigan Council of Women in Technology; if you want to have women in tech, you have to have girls in tech. How do initiatives such as Ford GoBike, Chariot, and your pilot program with Beaumont on non-emergency medical transport fit into the company’s vision for the city of tomorrow? Marcy Klevorn: First, we need to address traffic flow in cities. My son lives in New York City. The average speed in Manhattan is 8 miles per hour; it's painful to get across town. Whether it's getting people from point A to B or moving goods, we have to figure out how to accommodate that more efficiently. Different modes of transportation can help the flow of traffic by reducing the number of vehicles, whether it is using Chariot or a bike for last-mile commutes. Gathering data on how people use technology in crowded cities can also shed light on solutions. My son does not own a car because it is too expensive, but he knows how to string together all different modes of transportation to get to where he needs to go, whether it is walking, taking the subway, or Uber. If you think about how Ford can help, maybe it’s an app that says, “Based on the time of day or based on the weather, here's the best way to get from point A to point B. Here's the way that includes a trip

Greenfield Labs facilitates an interactive workshop titled, “Sharing the Street,” that challenges participants to rethink streets and develop a common language of choices and solutions that will benefit all citizens at Ford Motor Company's City of Tomorrow Symposium. Photo courtesy of Ford.

by Starbucks because we know you like that.” I think we can help make it a more pleasurable experience for people and help decrease some of the congestion in cities. What is the difference between Ford’s talent needs of today as it embarks on the new mobility focus – as opposed to 20 years ago? How is Ford addressing this challenge? Marcy Klevorn: If I reflect back on the difference in the kind of people you might want, in the past because things didn't move as quickly, you could hire for a specific skill, and that would last. It would transcend time. And now that things move so quickly, while you might hire for somebody that has a certain skill set, the thing you also want to look for is their ability to adapt and learn. And if they know one coding language, can they learn another? If they understand one business model, can they adapt and invent new business models? It’s less about hiring for a specific skill and thinking that's going to last, and more about hiring somebody that has the specific skills that can learn, change, grow, adapt, apply and connect dots. Also, don’t be afraid of ambiguity. Ford continues to affirm its commitment as a global company. Given your role in the China strategy and your leadership role overseeing Ford’s business transformation in Europe, how important is it to have a global presence and strategy? Jim

Farley: Although it’s filled with

challenges, if we see a compelling road to profitability and the physicals are there, even if the short-term is challenged because of the market, i.e. what we've been through in places like Russia, South America and India, where the market dropped in half, of course globalization is a priority. The profitability profile of the company is always shifting. Today, North America’s market is very strong but we could have a recession or a fuel spike. Being established in global markets is an insurance policy in a way. During the automotive recession of 2008, Europe was profitable and South America was making a billion dollars a year. While we didn’t go bankrupt, without those operations who knows what may have occurred. Secondly, when you look at markets like India, Russia and southern Europe … that's where most of the growth is coming globally in the next 20 years in our vehicle business. We have a lot of other changes coming, but in the vehicle business the emerging markets are not easy. They are all very different. People like to put them into one big bucket. What it takes to be successful in India is very different than Turkey or Russia, and that's very different than Mexico, and Indonesia. I think we're well-positioned. We’re also a dominant player in areas like Africa and Thailand because of the Ford Ranger. How will the transformation of electric and autonomous vehicles play a role in the importance of personal style? Will

DETROITER December 2017

At the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Ford Motor Company showcased mobility solutions, the next-generation Fusion Hybrid autonomous vehicle, as well as several new connectivity capabilities, including integration with Amazon Alexa and new AppLink apps DriverScore, ExxonMobil Speedpass+ and Sygic. Photo courtesy of Ford.

individuals no longer care about the color and design of a vehicle, instead opting for a generic autonomous pod? Is this a cultural shift the industry will soon be facing? Jim Farley: Most of these technical transitions don't happen overnight. What I find with people, if you use our current life as proxy, plenty of us own a Mustang and take an Uber to the airport. It's not an either/or. There are times when you just want to get from point A to point B. What you're looking for in that kind of vehicle, is the best connectivity. When I'm sitting in the back of that vehicle, I want it to work like my house. There's going to be F-150 customers out there for many years. I think some of those F-150 customers would love to take an automated drive to the Dallas airport. We'll figure it all out, but it's going to be mixed for a while. So yes, putting energy into different products and brands does make sense in this new world because we own our work. We have some passionate brands, like the ST and the RS Focus, or the Mustang. The performance business is a big business. For us, we see leading into those spaces as we electrify and as we complement customers' ownership of autonomous vehicles. You recently wrote a blog stating, “To get to the self-driving future we can all imagine, we need to build a business today that has a foundation for longterm success.” A key challenge Ford has versus some of the autonomous upstarts is designing, engineering and building the F-150 and Lincoln for the market today while at the same time preparing for the future. How is Ford

leveraging its foundation of today AND balancing its position in this new mobility world? Jim Farley: We have some real significant assets when we look in the autonomous vehicle business. For one, we’re an integrator, we’ve been doing it for 114 years. We know how to put a VDS with duplicate braking, duplicate steering system, and have it all work flawlessly. For decades, we’ve had one of the highest volume commercial vehicle transport products as a platform. It used to be the Crown Victoria, and then it became hybrids. We're No. 2 in hybrids in the United States. Our hybrids and their battery packs have gone 300- 400- and 500,000 miles. Every day we deal with those. We’re also a dominant player in the police business, other OEMs can’t say that. Those police Explorers used for pursuit vehicles have very high mileage. They are designed for 250,000 miles or more. We’re talking seats, body structure, suspension components, etc. Second, we have a dominant position in commercial vehicles here and in Europe. We know the people at the job sites. They trust the Ford oval, just like cities do, more than a lot of the other technology companies. If we were to go to a city, or to a job site, and say, “We're going to deliver the goods for a local Home Depot," that means something different than another company, because we've been part of their life for a hundred years. In terms of moving goods beyond ridehailing, we think we have a real strength in autonomous vehicles because we know the customers well.

Ford’s commitment to work with cities to improve transportation with more accessible, affordable and sustainable mobility services took a big leap forward with the expansion of the San Francisco Bay Area’s bike-share program. In collaboration with Motivate, the company launched Ford GoBike. Photo courtesy of Ford.

As you look at the history of Ford, your own experience, and how the world is dramatically changing, what advice would you give to young people as they potentially look at a career in automobility? What might you say to youth, someone looking to move from another place to come to Detroit, or others who might consider a career at Ford? Jim Farley: Our industry is changing for the biggest time since a hundred years ago. I can't think of a cooler place. You look at our board members — they're from Silicon Valley and venture capital. Why do they find it interesting to be at Ford? Because it's all there. We touch so many lives. We touch globally. We are heavily regulated. We have to fix a core, our vehicle business, and we have to allocate capital and get into new businesses, from city solutions to automated and electrification. At Ford, you could live in 16 different countries and work on game-changing technology. As for Michigan, there is nothing more exciting than where I live in downtown Detroit. For a young person, this is just as cool as San Francisco, you just should have snow boots and a parka. Beyond that, I take the QLine to the ballgame with my friends. I go over and watch a Tigers game at the third baseline and answer my emails at night. I have a completely urban life. I don’t even use my car on the weekends. I love living downtown. It has totally reinvigorated my life. You have restaurants, energy, sports, and all the history you want. Daniel Lai is communications manager for the Detroit Regional Chamber and editor of the Detroiter. Glenn Stevens is the executive director of MICHauto.

DETROITER December 2017

Michigan on Top

IN MOBILITY RACE Automated vehicle technology driving Michigan’s innovation economy By Paul A. Eisenstein

nn Arbor commuters had good reason to celebrate last Thanksgiving as the orange barrels vanished along a lengthy stretch of US-23 that had been snarled for months by construction. What few drivers likely realize is that the massive project is part of a federally funded pilot program meant to create the highway of the future. General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra has suggested we will see more change in the automotive industry over the course of the next five years than we have during the last 50. If anything, that is an understatement – and much of the transformation is being shaped here in Michigan. Let’s lay out the CASE, if you will. That stretch of US-23 will be used to test new connected car technology that will be critical to enabling the autonomous vehicles that could start plying U.S. roads in large numbers early in the coming decade. A new study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), meanwhile, predicts that millions of Americans may abandon their private vehicles in favor of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and that as much as half of the vehicles on the road will, by 2030, be powered by electrified drivetrains.

Virtually every aspect of the automobile is in transition, from the way vehicles are designed to the way they are sold. Even the way they look will likely be very different in the not-toodistant future. Pure battery-electric vehicles, like the Chevrolet Bolt, put most of their drivetrain hardware under the floor, so much of the old engine compartment can be used for passengers and cargo, meaning smaller vehicles with bigger cabins. And if you are not driving, why not turn the vehicle into a mobile living room or office? Without a driver, the cost of a ride with a service like Lyft will drop substantially. So, many people will simply use a smartphone app to summon a vehicle when they need to get somewhere, rather than owning a private vehicle, said Xavier Mosquet, the author of the BCG study and previously head of the consultancy’s Troy office. By connecting those vehicles, they will share information on traffic and weather conditions. And because their cameras, radar and LIDAR sensors do not blink, former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief Mark Rosekind is convinced we could see U.S. highway fatalities drop from more than 35,000 in 2016 to zero.

Top: Ford Motor Co. is taking a significant step toward bringing self-driving vehicles to the masses thanks to a partnership with Lyft. Bottom right: The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV offers more than 200 miles of range on a full charge. Bottom left: The Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 fuel cell electric truck at the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) at General Motors' Milford Proving Ground. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell in the ZH2 runs nearly silent and can export up to 25 kW of electric power and generate up to two gallons of usable water per hour from its only emission, water vapor.

We have not seen this big a transformation since Henry Ford started the first moving assembly line at his Model T plant in Highland Park. And it will not come cheap. Volkswagen recently announced plans to invest more than $40 billion on its autonomous and electrified vehicle research over the next five years. Industrywide, the figure is expected to run to $100 billion or more. Much of that money is being spent in Southeast Michigan. Considering the costs and uncertainties, CASE technologies are making for some strange bedfellows. Honda and GM, for example, have formed a partnership to produce hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Ford Motor Company and GM have both teamed up with Lyft to test their autonomous vehicles. Ford, Hyundai and Toyota are among those that have pledged millions to complete the American Center for Mobility. Even Waymo, the Google spinoff considered a leader in hands-free technology, has set up a suburban Detroit base. Who will win the race to develop tomorrow’s connected, autonomous, shared and electrified automobile? It is far from certain. But what does seem clear is that Michigan is coming out on top. Paul A. Eisenstein is the publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com.

DETROITER December 2017

GoDrive is an on-demand, public car-sharing pilot program. The service offers customers flexible, practical and affordable access to a fleet of cars for one-way journeys with easy parking throughout London. Left: General Motors Executive Director of Urban Mobility Peter Kosak introduces GM's car-sharing service, Maven, which provides customers access to highly personalized, on-demand mobility services.

Chariot, Ford Motor Company's crowdsourced shuttle service, will offer in-app ride booking for first- and last-mile commuting solutions, and the potential to reach underserved areas. Photo courtesy of Bailey Roberts for Chariot.

Michigan Automakers Pave Way for

CITY OF TOMORROW Connectivity, ride-sharing and electrification address challenges in dense urban areas By James Amend

he city of tomorrow, where public, private and shared mobility services are interconnected to more efficiently and sustainably move people and goods, lies years down the road, but Detroit automakers already are paving the way. “It is a time of tremendous change,” said Jessica Robinson, director of City Solutions at Ford Motor Company. Advancements in autonomous and electric vehicles are occurring every day as the industry transforms from traditional automaker to personal mobility provider. Meanwhile, ride-hailing and car-sharing services are rapidly expanding and very shortly cars will communicate with each other and a city’s infrastructure. At the same time, however, the global population is skyrocketing, especially in urban areas

already suffocating under transportation congestion. Robinson’s group is a one-of-a-kind unit within the industry tasked with addressing urban-environment issues and developing mobility solutions for congested cities. The group has delivered numerous innovations, although a key element of its early work has been reaching out to city leaders around the world to get a firsthand look at the mobility challenges facing urban centers. “We can’t build more streets,” Robinson said. “So how do we move more people and more goods? The way to do that is greater orchestration.” In New York, for example, traffic speed in Manhattan’s midtown area has fallen 20 percent in the last 10 years to 4.7 mph. And despite the litany of public transit options,

vehicle ownership in outer boroughs such as Brooklyn remain a relatively robust 40 percent. Ford’s Chariot startup was an early answer for New York. The on-demand ride-sharing service employs Ford Transit vans and shuttles up to 14 passengers along commuter routes. Vans take up the footprint of oneand-a-half vehicles and complement existing public transit routes as a first- and lastmile option for commuters. The company crowdsources rider data, too, so Chariot can service the right places at the right time. “Microtransit fits into an industry middle ground between high-quality public transit and driving yourself, or walking,” Robinson said. “It enhances peoples’ ability to get around, brings efficiency with the shared piece and is responsive to demand.”

DETROITER DETROITERSeptember December 2015 2017

Chariot has expanded into eight other cities, including San Francisco, Austin and Seattle. Ford also recently began a public bicycle sharing service in collaboration with San Francisco’s transit authority. Ford GoBike launched in 2013 with 700 bikes available across 70 stations. Later this year, the automaker expects to provide 7,000 bikes. Ford GoDrive is another experiment. It is a one-way car-sharing service in London, England. Parking is guaranteed and riders pay as they go, reserving and accessing cars with a smartphone app. GENERAL MOTORS General Motors is working on several initiatives, including its Maven car-sharing unit. Maven offers GM cars and trucks for hourly, daily and weekly use targeting everyday people, residential communities, commercial entities, and the gig economy, an exploding network of drivers providing mobility services in urban areas under short-term contracts. Launched in New York and Ann Arbor just over 18 months ago, Maven has expanded into nearly every major U.S. metropolitan market with 10,000 vehicles having logged 170 million miles. Peter Kosak, executive director of Urban Mobility at GM, said Maven Gig is an example of how new forms of mobility satisfy changing consumer demands, generate jobs, and provide transportation to underserved populations. And with thousands of units of the Chevrolet Bolt, Maven Gig is slashing emissions and giving civic leaders critical insight to building future electric vehicle charging stations. “The next step would be autonomous vehicles and a link to mass transit,” Kosak said. Kosak said autonomous electric vehicles working in concert with local transit authorities could make a city more sustainable by reducing public transport costs, as well as providing rides and delivery services to urban areas outside of bus and rail routes. “Now we can get our elderly to the doctor. We can deliver food. We can get our kids to school,” he said. “It is a powerful concept.” FCA US LLC Fiat Chrysler (FCA US LLC) also is driving the industry toward an autonomous future. The automaker’s Chrysler Pacifica minivan is being used by Google’s driverless car unit, Waymo. Testing of 600 cars is underway

This 2017 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan is equipped with Waymo’s fully self-driving technology.

DETROITER December 2017

in California and Waymo was expected to expand its validation work into Southeast Michigan in late 2017. The automaker also is collaborating with Germany’s BMW, chipmaker Intel, and Mobileye, an Israeli automotive vision expert, on self-driving technology. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne called the collaboration vital to advancing driverless cars by sharing technologies and creating greater scale to drive down cost for users. FCA also adopted Google’s powerful Android operating system to heighten the connectivity potential of its latestgeneration UConnect infotainment system. The system would potentially string together the growing universe of Android-powered devices and systems. “(The) collaboration with Google has been an extremely beneficial opportunity for both companies to explore how in-vehicle infotainment and connectivity technology continues to evolve, and what it takes to meet consumers’ increasing desire for innovation of information with minimal distraction,” said Chris Barman, head of electrical engineering at FCA. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. Among the projects at Toyota Motor North America in Ann Arbor is a broad research initiative into how drivers interact with advanced vehicle technologies to ensure future cars safely interact within their environments. Five separate projects with national universities including the University of Michigan focus on societal acceptance and will generate data-driven insights into the use of future vehicle technologies, such as automated systems. While much work lies ahead to fully integrate the emerging modes of transportation with traditional ones and public transit, industry leaders agree an environment where they have historically operated independently is no longer sustainable. “The period we are in promises to unlock as much value and impact lifestyles and landscapes as the automobile did in the very beginning,” GM’s Kosak said. “It is going to be transformative.” James Amend is a senior editor at WardsAuto in Southfield.

May Mobility's driverless vehicles transport Quicken Loans and Rock Ventures employees in downtown Detroit. The vehicles traveled nearly 100 miles and carried 200 people.

MAY MOBILITY'S

Rapid Autonomous Deployment Ann Arbor autonomous shuttle startup expects 2018 supply contracts May Mobility, an autonomous batteryelectric-vehicle fl eet provider born earlier this year out of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has no plans for adolescence; instead, the startup expects to join competitors in the future mobility space with commercial deployment of its products next year. “Our strategy is to do a handful of fi veday pilot programs and then get out of the pilot program business altogether into the contract business in the second half of 2018,” said Ed Olsen, founder and CEO of May Mobility. An initial pilot program was conducted in October 2017 along Detroit’s central business district, where a pair of sixpassenger driverless EVs shuttled Quicken Loans and Rock Ventures workers along a half-mile geofenced route. The trial carried 200 people and covered nearly 100 miles, collecting

important data and rider sentiment. The company’s approach is to serve small, compact areas, or roughly twomile routes within a 10 square-mile area unfi t for transit buses or ride-hailing services. “This is an area where we can quickly install infrastructure to deliver safe and reliable transportation as soon as possible,” Olsen added. May Mobility also could serve as a lastmile form of transportation for daily commuters, but one of its objectives is to provide rides in underserved areas where residents either cannot afford to drive or are physically limited. “It’s a huge social problem,” Olsen said of so-called transportation deserts. “These social cases really speak to us and motivate us.”

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DETROITER December September2017 2014

In Search of Michigan's

SMART CITIES ”If you know how to run your city and people are voting by living in the city, other businesses will want to come and set up shop there ... So a smart city is enabled by technology, for the benefit of the citizens. ” — Rahul Gupta, Principal, Capital Projects and Infrastructure, PwC

mart cities are all the rage these days, the hot topic of conferences around the globe. High-profile competitions pit cities and regions against each other for bragging rights, government research dollars – and in the case of Amazon’s much-ballyhooed HQ2 project, a $5-billion investment and 50,000 jobs.

Detroit-based NextEnergy recently awarded $100,000 to winners of its second “Next Challenge: Smart Cities” contest for ideas to create safer, more efficient places for people to live and work with a lower impact on the environment. Michigan has a huge stake in the race to integrate new technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT), described by some as the third wave of the internet revolution, after personal computers and mobile devices. The IoT will connect 50 billion devices – cars, robots, kitchen appliances, etc. – in the next few years. In a sweeping transformation of the automobile industry, new names like Tesla, Uber, Lyft and Waymo vie for leadership of the mobility space with traditional automakers. Now, amid rapid urbanization worldwide, the race for smart city status looms as the next great economic battleground.

Municipalities strive to be livable as they get more crowded By Tom Walsh

NextEnergy has been testing and demonstrating smart charging concepts since 2010, and is actively exploring next steps for fast, bi-directional and wireless vehicle charging.

SMART SENSORS LIGHT PATH TO URBAN SOLUTIONS What does it mean to be a smart city? Rana Sen, smart city leader for Deloitte’s U.S. public sector practice, said his firm once counted 122 definitions for smart cities among academia, think tanks, corporations and governments – then decided not to invent a 123rd. Generally, “smart city” refers to an urban area that uses electronic data collection sensors to better manage assets and services ranging from traffic and parking to power plants, water supply, schools, hospitals and law enforcement.

DETROITER December 2017

Students from Voyageur Academy in Detroit set up pedestrian counting sensors to survey the number of people using the Detroit riverfront. Steve Mahan, who is legally blind, was the first nonGoogle employee to ride alone on a public street in Firefly, Waymo's first fully self-driving reference vehicle. NextHome operates as a “living lab” within NextEnergy’s testing and validation platforms allowing industry partners to leverage multiple IoT frameworks and a residential microgrid to accelerate the development and commercialization of nextgeneration energy technologies.

“People are asking hard questions following flooding, disasters, earthquakes and wildfires. In the U.S., we react best after a shock,” Gupta said. “As a society, we want to know, ‘how is technology going to change my life?’” Deloitte's Sen said smart cities should have three core objectives: • Economic competitiveness and job growth • Sustainability • And quality of life, as measured by key performance indicators such as congestion, walkability, etc. “It’s not just the parking structure or the roads and streetlights, this is a complete ecosystem that allows for an interconnected way of living,” said Samit Ghosh, president and CEO of P3 North America, a global engineering and consulting firm. That will be critical in a world in which 70 percent of the population will be in cities by 2050, even though cities cover only 2 percent of the earth. Jerome Lynch, chair of the University of Michigan’s civil and environmental engineering department, said rapid development of intelligent sensors during the past few years prompted cities to seek help from university researchers on how

best to gather, process and use the vast array of data to make better decisions. In 2017, Lynch and colleagues from various disciplines — engineering, health, public policy, education, information, sociology, architecture and urban planning – formed the Urban Collaboratory at U of M to work with cities to address challenges that impact livability of communities. They are working on projects in Ann Arbor, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Ypsilanti relating to air and water quality, food trucks and public transit. Rahul Gupta, PwC’s principal for capital projects and infrastructure, sees a “nascent user engagement” emerging from citizen concerns about failing infrastructure in the United States.

Gupta said a city’s smart use of technology and data is key to attracting investment. “If you know how to run your city and people are voting by living in the city, other businesses will want to come and set up shop there,” he said. “It helps you do things like understand climate change and the importance of good traffic management. So a smart city is enabled by technology, for the benefit of the citizens.” MOBILITY UPHEAVAL: BOON OR BANE FOR MICHIGAN? In Michigan, much of the attention on smart cities has focused on the region’s legacy as an automotive and manufacturing hub. Maintaining its leadership in mobility technologies is a critical anchor for

DETROITER December September2017 2014

Through the NextRide program, NextEnergy worked with Mahindra GenZe to collect, prepare and analyze user experiences and vehicle data to help inform businesses, anchor institutions, and communities on urban-use cases for a fleet of electric scooters.

“I do think there’s opportunity to use the transportation network as kind of a smart city backbone,” he said. “We still have challenges maintaining the existing transportation infrastructure,” Steudle added, so smart regions must find cost-effective ways to invest. The recent rollout of the $92-million Flex Route project on US-23 between Ann Arbor and Brighton involved bridge, ramp and pavement repairs while also adding intelligent technology with overhead signs, cameras and electronic message boards. The inside median shoulder was opened to traffic during peak traffic times, averting the need to add extra lanes. Michigan’s adoption of laws enabling the use, testing and selling of autonomous vehicles positions the state for continued leadership in the mobility space, said Mark Davidoff, Deloitte’s Michigan managing Michigan’s economy, one that continues to attract investment from around the globe. Siemens, a German technology firm, chose Ann Arbor in 2016 as its first Center of Excellence for Intelligent Traffic Technology. Its controls adjust signal timing to optimize traffic flow at about 100 intersections in a town with unusual traffic patterns, especially on U of M football weekends, when spectators pack the Big House and then leave town a few hours later. Vehicle makers and suppliers from around the world also partner with researchers at Mcity, the 32-acre vehicle testing environment on U of M’s North Campus, and at the 500-acre American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti. “There are many more facets to a smart city than just transportation,” said Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. “Mobility is a piece, but it’s access to electronic information and connectivity, too.” Columbus, Ohio’s winning proposal in the U.S. Transportation Department’s 2016 Smart City Challenge included providing cell phones to people who could not afford them, so they could tell when buses were running, Steudle noted.

Spurs Global Interest with $100K CONTEST NextEnergy, a Detroit-based nonprofit, has achieved global momentum for its $100,000 “NextChallenge: Smart Cities,” by nearly doubling the number of entrants.

Ten finalists were announced for the 2017 competition. Half are from other countries: two from Canada, and one each from Germany, Greece and Dubai. Entrants propose technology solutions for unmet needs to benefit cities by creating livable urban centers, while entrepreneurs gain from having ideas evaluated in a realworld setting. “A major value of our network, working closely with large companies such as DTE

Energy, Denso, Bosch, Ford Motor Co., FCA and General Motors, is relationships with companies that deploy things at scale,” said Gina Schrader, NextEnergy’s director of business model innovation. “That makes the value to startup companies around the world more powerful, because they want access to those companies.” The first place winning company, Switched Source, received $40,000. Other finalists included: Ambience Data, EcoBCG, Nextek Power Systems, TrafiSense, Derq, EcoG, Greenlots, SmartCone Technologies and Tome. Their proposals aim for safe streets to bike and ride; reliable energy; and providing convenient electric vehicle charging.

DETROITER December 2017

partner and member of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Michigan Council on Future Mobility.

turning to how can the public and private sectors come together?”

“If we’re going to lead the world, we must lead on all fronts,” Davidoff said. “That’s why you see public-private partnerships that focus on cementing our beachheads.”

The U of M Urban Collaboratory was approached directly for help last year by Benton Harbor, one of the state’s poorest cities, which was run by state-appointed emergency financial managers from 2010 to 2016.

Brandon Mason, PwC’s automotive director and mobility leader, said retaining talent is critical. “We’ve got the universities putting out smart, very good engineering people, but can we keep them in the region to help develop the technology?” he said. P3's Ghosh believes Michigan has opportunity but perhaps not enough collaboration. “Because we have so many of those larger players – GM, Ford, tech companies, and Tier 1 suppliers that are all here together — we could come up with a collaborative initiative for the future smart city,” Ghosh said. “We have all the ingredients to cook the soup and it would be stupid if we don’t cook it, because definitely somebody will cook it somewhere else.” CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: A KEY TO GETTING SMART So what can cities do to nurture smart growth and create incentives for innovation? For starters, ask the citizenry what they want. For a recent study entitled “Future Cities: Navigating the New Era of Mobility,” conducted for the state by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the research team conducted workshops in five cities across Michigan – Grand Rapids, Gaylord, Marquette, Plymouth and Ypsilanti – and surveyed participants about mobility options and traffic issues. PwC’s Gupta said this approach is needed in an era of tight municipal budgets. “We don’t have all the money in the world to recapitalize the U.S. infrastructure,” Gupta said. “The last time this was done top-down was during the Eisenhower era. Our bridges are failing, our pipes are failing, our copper cables need to be replaced. We’ve got a brittle grid that needs to be made resilient, so the conversation is The University of Michigan’s Mcity allows Ford Motor Company to safely test its SAE Level 4-capable autonomous vehicles in a simulated urban environment. The car navigates scenarios like traffic in intersections, pedestrians in crosswalks, different traffic signals and bicyclists.

“The new mayor, Marcus Muhammad, came in looking to do something different, but with limited resources,” said Lynch, codirector of the Collaboratory, which worked with the community to address two pressing problems, mobility and water. Benton Harbor does not have the lead contamination that afflicted Flint’s water, but it did have poor water pressure due to declining population and aging pipes, which caused buildup of sediment. In addition, many residents do not have cars, and the local transit system does not provide good options to get unemployed workers to available jobs. Studies have been launched to address both issues, Lynch said. In Grand Rapids, the university was approached by the city and the Start Garden startup accelerator to partner with seven other private and nonprofit groups on a pilot program to monitor air quality in the city from sensors installed on food trucks. As a byproduct, residents can also more easily find locations and times that the food trucks are operational.

”Because we have so many of those larger players ... we could come up with a collaborative initiative for the future smart city.” — Samit Ghosh, President and CEO, P3 North America And in Detroit, Lynch said, the Collaboratory is working with the Knight Foundation and Voyageur Academy in Southwest Detroit, providing “sensors in a shoebox” kits with devices to middle and high school students. Students use them to measure air quality, pedestrian traffic, parks usage or other aspects of community life – and then work with U of M experts on how to analyze the data. WHAT’S NEXT FOR SMART(ER) CITIES? Amazon’s hyped-up derby for awarding its HQ2 location is targeting larger metro areas located far afield from its home base in Seattle, Wash., but most of its key criteria – talent, transit, tech-friendliness – are aligned closely with a smart-city playbook. With 238 applications from U.S. cities, including Grand Rapids and Detroit, the guessing game about top contenders has rivals comparing their smart city bonafides with the rest of the pack. Coming on the heels of the U.S. DOT’s Smart City Challenge, this may be an early stage of smart city obsession. And that’s a good thing, says MDOT’s Steudle. Tom Walsh is a metro Detroit freelance writer.

DETROITER December September2017 2014

From Motor City to Detroit’s mobility chief discusses his vision for affordable and equitable transit By Melissa Anders

MOBILITY CITY MoGo, Detroit's first public bike-share program, launched this past summer. There are 430 bikes at 43 stations in 10 neighborhoods. Photo by Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press, courtesy of Mark de la Vergne.

equitable access to affordable and timeefficient mobility solutions. Over a year into his post, de la Vergne is working on several fronts to make it safer and easier for people to get around. In 2017, the city won a pair of grants that will help it achieve these goals. Nearly $2.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration will allow Detroit to deploy technologies such as vehicle-to-infrastructure communication networks in four corridors to help improve traffic flow. The city also received a $200,000 Knight Foundation grant to develop a strategy on how to best use smart city technologies and the Internet of Things to ensure improvements benefit all residents. In an interview with the Detroiter, de la Vergne discussed the city’s future plans. Describe your role as chief of mobility innovation. What does that entail?

s cities across the country increasingly focus on efficient ways to improve operations via technology, Detroit’s leaders are taking taking steps to stay ahead of the mark. The epicenter of the global automotive industry, Detroit is positioning itself to serve as a national model for mobility.

The Transit App shows upcoming departures for nearby transportation lines, allowing Detroiters to access the most up-to-date timelines for transit systems.

To address the city’s myriad challenges — including access to a regionally connected transit system — last year, Mayor Mike Duggan created the Office of Mobility Innovation and tapped veteran transportation planner Mark de la Vergne to serve as its chief. The Motor City was also one of 77 midsize cities nationwide to compete in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2016 Smart City Challenge. As part of that, the city developed a plan calling for a mix of hard and soft infrastructure that would provide

My role and our team’s role is essentially to integrate new types of mobility services and technologies into the work that (other city departments) are doing so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. How are you working to improve existing services? I’ll give you one example. At the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) over the last two years, there has been a lot of (bus service) improvements — from new routes, to implementing 24-hour service on nine routes, to increasing frequency on some core routes. We are going to continue to do those improvements. Where we get tied up from an operational standpoint is people just paying for a fare on the bus. So we are looking at ways at how we can improve that, whether that is implementing pilots around doing offboard fare payment … to potentially implementing

DETROITER December 2017

a mobile payment pilot to allow people to pay with their cell phones if they do not have cash or a pass. Secondarily, we are also looking to understand that fixed-style service is probably not the solution for every single part of the city, because the city has different densities in different neighborhoods. But just because someone lives in a low-density neighborhood does not mean that they should have a lower level of access to mobility ... we are going to be going through a pilot program over the next few years to begin to deploy different types of services. How do you foresee outside mobility providers playing a role? We are in a unique spot where we can say we are very open to partnering with all these private sector partners because we believe that what we do well — which is going to be running fixed-route service on our main course at a high frequency and moving a lot of people — is something that we can do better than everyone else. But we are going

to need these various sources, whether it is providing service to a neighborhood late at night where the bus does not go, to being able to provide options for people that do not own a car but might need to use a car once a month. What are the next steps to increase mobility and access for Detroiters to get from Point A to Point B? The engagement portion is going to be important to be able to talk to people, to understand what works for them now, what does not work for them, how they view the services that are out there, so that we can ideally address these barriers to create good pilot projects. And then when we get ready to scale some of these solutions, then we have got a lot of these answers already in our pocket. If you had a crystal ball, what do you see mobility and smart technology looking like in Detroit in the next 10 years? Mobility has been transformed in Detroit and it is much easier to get in and around

”We are looking at ways at how we can improve (paying for bus fares), whether that is implementing pilots around doing offboard fare payment ... to potentially implementing a mobile payment pilot to allow people to pay with their cell phones if they do not have cash or a pass.” — Mark de la Vergne, Chief of Mobility Innovation, City of Detroit the city. DDOT is providing fast, frequent reliable service on the main corridors of the city and it is fully integrated with other types of mobility services so residents have numerous options to get to their destination. Our traffic and parking infrastructure is using real-time information to improve the operations within our right of way. Melissa Anders is a Detroit native and freelance writer.

DETROITER December 2017

SMART CITY SOLUTIONS: Michigan's Industries Embrace Energy, telecom and health care are key players in delivering efficient services to communities By Dawson Bell

DIGITAL WORLD

t is impossible not to marvel at the tools that technology has put into the hands of consumers in the 21st century. Smartphone apps locate the nearest pizza joint, map the journey to its door, and measure the number of calories burned to get there. Automotive technology removes human error from parallel parking and lane changes. Cloud-connected devices remotely control home appliances and security cameras and send alerts to watches and phones. The pace of change is dazzling. Another technological revolution, less visible to consumers but equally transformative, is also underway — the development of complex systems to connect devices and deploy the infrastructure necessary to power and integrate them into daily life. Some fall under the near-universal linkage of physical objects, or the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). Others are more straightforward building projects, e.g., the expansion of broadband internet and the proliferation of charging stations for electric vehicles. The Detroit region is a hotbed of activity in this wave of technological innovation necessary to connect smart cities. Here is a look at some of what is happening in different industry sectors:

ENERGY

The DTE Energy Level 2 charging station delivers efficient energy to charge EVs.

Technology holds the promise — and has already delivered — significant efficiencies in energy consumption. Increased utilization of electric vehicles, which automakers regard as inevitable, presage a sharp reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Smart, connected, electrical grids deliver less costly, more reliable electricity.

will be minimized. One distinct re-fueling advantage EVs have, he points out, is that it can be performed when the vehicle is not in use, during off-peak, and less expensive, power generation periods.

But the transition will involve significant investment, said Liesl Clark, president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. Deploying sufficient charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) — necessary to allay EV user concerns about getting stranded — is a challenge, Clark said. But one she believes will be met by the combined forces of vehicle manufacturers, utilities and government agencies.

DTE and other utilities will have a role in easing the transition, Serna said, by working with customers to understand the needs and opportunities of EV use, and working to build out necessary infrastructure. That means incorporating charging technology on the residential level, and increasing the availability of so-called Level 2 charging stations (those at which an EV can recharge more quickly) outside of the home.

Camilo Serna, DTE Energy’s vice president of corporate strategy, notes the transition to EVs will increase demand for electricity. But Serna said the company is hopeful the costs

Of the 621 Level 2 charging stations currently operating in Michigan, more than half (364) are in DTE’s Southeast Michigan service area.

DETROITER DETROITERSeptember December 2015 2017

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Weisong Shi, a professor of computer science at Wayne State University (WSU), believes the future is connected. Devices for transit, health and safety (and almost everything else) have the potential to generate data that can be compiled, analyzed and utilized, he said. “These days are coming very fast,” Shi said, limited only by human imagination and the reality that some will require speculative investment. Telecom giant Comcast is making some of the latter in Detroit, one of the early regions selected for the rollout of its IoT project called MachineQ. The infrastructure, planned to eventually cover most of the city of Detroit, will allow users to collect and transmit data to the cloud, without massive upfront investment or power requirements, said Alex Khorram, Comcast’s vice president for business development. The potential uses for MachineQ are openended, Khorram said, but are aimed mostly at low-power applications. Transmitters installed in municipal water systems, for instance, could relay information about leaks and pressure failures for years without battery replacement.

Khorram said the company’s goal is to create a system that potential users will regard as “a sandbox,” where they can unleash their imaginations to address solutions for the city’s needs. HEALTH CARE Connectivity in the delivery of health care treatment and services is another area for opportunity. Joseph Jankowski is a senior advisor at Henry Ford Health System’s Innovation Institute, which is testing and deploying new technologies to improve patient satisfaction, streamline the delivery of care, and contain costs. At Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, for example, medical staff implemented widespread deployment of proprietary communications technology, developed in conjunction with Detroit-based tech firm Vision IT, that allows providers to more readily address patient needs and share information internally. Jankowski said CareTrail gives medical professionals a new way to securely communicate with each other in real-time in ways not possible through traditional medical record-keeping. WSU’s Shi, collaborating with university colleagues and various outside agencies, is working on an experimental program

Weisong Shi, a professor of computer science at Wayne State University, is working on a prototype called STREMS that would allow EMS workers to transmit patient information prior to arrival at the hospital.

to connect emergency medical responders directly to treatment centers. The prototype, dubbed STREMS, would allow EMS workers to transmit patient information — such as an EKG reading — prior to arrival at the hospital. Shi hopes to obtain funding for a full-blown clinical trial of STREMS, one of dozens of initiatives being developed by WSU’s Wireless Health initiative in the coming year. Across the region, technological innovation is shaping the world in both obvious and unseen ways: parking garages are wired for EV charging, while looking at a future with less demand for parking space; utility towers serve double and triple duty as transmitters of information about traffic and crime; and new construction, like Quicken Loans founder and chairman Dan Gilbert’s 800foot tower at the site of the old J.L. Hudson’s store in Detroit is poised to become both the tallest and smartest building in the city. In the new Detroit, technology is everywhere, and, increasingly, it is connected. Dawson Bell is a metro Detroit freelance writer.

DETROITER December 2017

GET SMART:

Michigan’s Companies Spar for Top Tech Talent Automakers and municipalities alter recruiting tactics, seek grassroots solution By James Amend

f cities across the nation want to get “smart,” they will need smart talent to crunch data and design, engineer and install the technology to manage the local ecosystem efficiently. Unfortunately, as industrial and civic leaders across Southeast Michigan know too well, that talent is few and high in demand.

rare data scientist, either. Technicians with high school diplomas and a smattering of vocational skills training to install and maintain a smart city’s infrastructure are difficult to find, too, as are the software code writers whose programs will manage the firehouse of data underpinning the operation of smart cities.

Students, mentors and civic stakeholders tour Toyota Bodine Aluminum on National Manufacturing Day. This is part of a nationwide effort to provide insightful, on-site experiences and educate students about potential careers in manufacturing. An estimated 2 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled over the next decade due to the inability to find talent with necessary technical skills.

“We have a pretty severe talent drain,” said Kristen Tabar, vice president of the Technical Strategy Planning Office at Toyota North America.

The shortage has the industry navigating unchartered waters. In Michigan, local OEMs and suppliers for decades enjoyed the pick of the litter from engineering schools, which have always been among the best in the nation. But those graduates know their skills now are in demand across the country and in many ways, they are calling the shots, Tabar said.

“They are steering away from automotive because of a fear factor,” Tabar said.

Tabar said Toyota’s dilemma, where it needs sharp talent from a broad range of disciplines to create the connected cars and trucks that will prowl smart cities, is not unique. Every major automaker is ramping up already robust recruiting efforts to score that talent. “We all have excellent relationships with the state’s universities, colleges and community colleges, but we are just not getting enough talent,” said Tabar, who determines which R&D projects the Ann Arbor facility will undertake and ensures there are adequate resources, including people, to execute them successfully. The automotive industry’s shortage of technical talent is not exclusive to advanced engineering graduates or the

“Fifteen years ago, it was the old saying, ‘If you build it they will come.’ We would always get great talent,” she said. “That is not the situation today. Toyota remains a great draw, with great recognition, but the candidates are interviewing us as much as we are interviewing them.” Although the automotive career perception trend is beginning to shift positively according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Detroit Regional Chamber’s MICHauto initiative, one big weight on recruiting has been the industry’s downturn in 2009. Many children whose parents lost jobs are graduating college

with a dim view of the industry.

The talent drought, coupled by a general lack of understanding of the mobility industry, compelled Toyota to shift its messaging to underscore how automotive has evolved. Toyota, for example, encourages employees to move about the company and inspires them to find leadership roles. “Find out what you love to do, but develop a broad perspective,” she said. A recent survey of chief information officers found nearly 50 percent felt they would experience a talent shortage this year. Trade journal headlines paint a grimmer picture, with reports of rival companies pinching each other for talent, including high-profile talent raids of autonomous car experts at Google and Carnegie Mellon. The talent shortage has several causes, most notably the meteoric rise of Silicon

DETROITER December 2017

Left: Grand Circus is an IT training institute in Detroit that also helps place graduates into 60 partner companies, providing an influx of muchneeded talent. Top: One of Grand Circus' main goals is to keep the talent in Detroit instead of having graduates look elsewhere for jobs.

Valley technology companies, but also the proliferation of technology across industries. Health care, finance, retail, cybersecurity and government are just a few of the industries duking it out for talent to deploy advanced technology to manage their operations more efficiently. “They are all competing for the same graduates, because every industry wants to get smart,” said Luke Forrest, director of Civic Innovation at the Michigan Municipal League, an association of municipalities and municipal leaders. The competitiveness has acutely affected automotive and municipalities, which arguably will be the backbone of smart cities. Privately owned cars and public transportation within a smart city must be engineered to communicate with each other, as well as infrastructure such as stoplights and crosswalks to work together safely. Experts within government, meanwhile, must have the expertise to manage data created by a smart city. “Baby Boomers are retiring and it is going to impact the functioning of (municipal) systems, such as a public works department, where people make things run behind the scenes. Layer smart cities on top of that

and the public works system of tomorrow becomes an experiment,” Forrest said. Forrest said a major trend among municipalities is to drive up resident education levels, which link directly to economic strength. In other words, smart cities need smart residents and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 13.4 percent of Detroit residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. That compares with Pittsburgh, a city reborn from the steel industry crash on the back of tech companies and is now a hotbed of driverless car research, where 38.3 percent of residents hold a college diploma.

Damien Rocchi, CEO and co-founder of Grand Circus, an IT training institute in Detroit that also helps place graduates into 60 partner companies, said the talent necessary to build out smart cities remains difficult to lure away from the coasts. But the industrial, social and housing renaissance Detroit has enjoyed in recent years leaves him optimistic. “We are in a much better position than we were just five years ago to keep talent, the people who can build a smart city, here,” James Amend is a senior editor at he said. WardsAuto in Southfi eld.

DETROITER December 2017

Speaking the Language of Commonly used terms among automotive and technology companies working in the smart city space

MOBILITY

2017 study released by the National League of Cities finds that 66 percent of U.S. cities are investing in smart technology, and 25 percent of cities without any smart systems are exploring how to capitalize on this new wave of innovation. To better understand the vernacular among automotive, mobility and technology companies working in this space, the Detroiter compiled a list of commonly used terms.

1 2

V2X: Vehicle-toeverything. Similar to V2I, it is the technology that allows vehicles to communicate with moving parts of the traffic system around them.

V2I: Vehicle-to-infrastructure. It is the technology that allows vehicles to wirelessly connect to outside infrastructure such as streetlights, buildings, pedestrians, etc. to inform drivers of safety, mobility, or environment-related conditions.

Wi-Fi: A wireless local area network that uses radio waves to connect computers and other devices to the internet.

Lidar: Light Imaging Detection and Ranging technology that detects objects on the surface, as well as their size and exact disposition.

Car-sharing: Technology that allows companies and individuals to rent cars by the minute or hour.

3 4

V2V: Vehicle-to-vehicle. It is the technology designed to allow automobiles to "talk" to each other.

ICT: Information and communications technologies. This includes the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication devices.

EV: A vehicle powered solely by electricity.

Internet of Things (IoT): The ever-growing network of objects that feature an IP address for internet connectivity, and the communication that occurs between these objects and other internetenabled devices and systems.

6 7

ITS: Intelligent transportation system. The application of sensing, analysis, control and communications technologies to ground transportation in order to improve safety, mobility and efficiency. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS): Describes a shift from personally owned modes of transportation. The integration of various forms of transport services into a single mobility service accessible on demand.

SAV: Shared autonomous vehicle. A fully self-driving vehicle that does not need human operation, other than providing destination information.

Radar: Radio detection and ranging.Used to .detect objects at a distance, define their speed and disposition.

Telematics: The integrated use of communications and information technology to transmit, store and receive information from telecommunications devices to remote objects over a network.

10 Smart City: A municipality that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public, and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare.

DETROITER December September2017 2014

Lessons From How Ohio turned $40 million into $500 million and is on track to become the first smart city in the United States By Paul Vachon

COLUMBUS

An artist's rendering of Columbus's downtown district, which will eventually include enhanced permit parking and smart parking management to ease congestion.

eveloping an integrated transportation system that incorporates data, technology and infrastructure to help people and goods move more cheaply and efficiently is perhaps the most formidable challenge facing Southeast Michigan over the next decade. Accomplishing this goal will require the region’s leaders to work collaboratively together on innovative solutions. And while the city that gave birth to the automobile is no stranger to creative thinking, tackling 21st century goals requires a new skill set — and often requires looking elsewhere for inspiration. That place is Columbus, Ohio, which is only too willing to lend its expertise. In 2016, the city was selected as the winner of the federal government’s Smart City Challenge. Selected from a field of 77 applicant cities, Columbus was awarded a $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to implement the comprehensive plan outlined in its proposal. An additional $10 million was provided by Vulcan Inc. of Seattle, Wash. A year later, the city has raised a total of $500 million in private investment with no plans of slowing down. The reason Columbus won was the simplicity of its final policy suggestions, which distilled a great deal of innovative thinking.

“Columbus did a superb job of explaining how technology can be effectively leveraged to help residents improve their lives,” said Adela Spulber, mobility consultant with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

call for an infrastructure of public charging stations to serve electric vehicles, and an integrated data exchange, which will allow bus or light rail passengers waiting at curbside to request a stop.

Working with experts from Ohio State University, a local task force began with a series of abstract, but essential goals: an improved quality of life for citizens (viewed holistically to include safety and ecofriendliness), renewed economic growth and sustainability, enhanced access to jobs and opportunities, and emergence as a world-class leader in logistics. Articulating these goals laid the foundational work to craft the city’s transit solutions.

The Columbus plan is designed to be elastic and adaptable to the community’s anticipated needs going forward.

“Transportation is not just about roads, transit and ride-sharing. It’s about how people access opportunity. And how they live,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. Through analysis of the city’s physical layout and talking with residents, four distinct “deployment districts” were identified, each with its own specific transit needs: downtown, commercial areas, residential neighborhoods and industrial — or “logistics” areas. Smart truck platooning, smart traffic systems and mobility hubs are all planned projects that will begin implementation in 2018. Plans also

“The technologies piloted will show their benefits in the future, taking into consideration demographic and mobility trends,” said Spulber. What insights can the greater Detroit area gain from Columbus’s experience? Spulber points out common elements, like having a mass transit system as the “backbone” of any regional plan. Also, emerging technologies should be adapted to enhance existing modes of transit. And one size does not fit all. “The Detroit area has lower population density than many other metropolitan regions,” Spulber said. “This limits the number of corridors that can benefit from high occupancy solutions like buses or street cars. In other areas, like Oakland or Macomb, smaller shuttle vehicles might be the best alternative.” Paul Vachon is a metro Detroit freelance writer.

DETROITER DETROITERSeptember December 2015 2017

BABYRIDE:

Detroit’s Smart Lifeline for Expectant Moms

reating a “smart” city for the 21st century requires synchronizing a lot of moving parts. Mobility, one task of this puzzle, has its own complexities — logistics to allow everyone to get to their destination easily, with no one left behind.

Lyft partnership offers free ride-sharing service for low-income pregnant women By Paul Vachon

For expectant mothers, transportation to prenatal care is an absolute necessity, but many low-income individuals lack the personal means. To address this challenge, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, director of the Detroit Department of Health (DOH), brainstormed new methods to improve the overall health of the community and reduce infant mortality. This past year, two DOH initiatives, one aimed at supporting expectant women, Make Your Date, and another aimed at new mothers, SisterFriends, jointly rolled out a comprehensive solution to assure that every pregnant woman in Detroit has the resources needed to deliver a healthy, full-term child. The BabyRide Project is a creative partnership involving Wayne State University, the ridesharing service Lyft, and DOH. The program provides transportation for expectant moms furnished by Lyft, to and from appointments with any doctor anywhere within the city limits. For these mothers, mobility equals access. “Lyft is always looking for opportunities to improve peoples’ lives,” explained Elliot Darvick, general manager for Lyft Detroit. “Amazingly, 3.6 million patients nationwide delay medical treatment each year because they lack transportation. In low income areas, the problem is especially acute.” The service is coordinated by a dispatch platform that allows staff at DOH to either preschedule or dispatch rides. Costs are underwritten jointly by Lyft and SisterFriends. Although BabyRide operates primarily during normal business hours, Darvick said Lyft can respond at any time, since outpatient clinics often schedule diagnostic tests after hours.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces BabyRide at the Technology in Motion event in Detroit in September.

The program had a soft launch in February 2017, followed by several months of testing. The official rollout took place in September and was marked by a press conference at Detroit’s inaugural Technology in Motion (TIM) event.

Khaldun expects the program to continue indefinitely, and ultimately include transportation to WIC (Women, Infants and Children) appointments and other essential services. She also hopes to see it become an integrated fixture in the community.

Comprehensive data is not yet available, but Khaldun is eager to talk about the methodology used to measure the program’s impact.

“The crux of the program is that it’s a form of community outreach, so we want it to eventually become community-led,” she said.

“We’ll be working with an evaluation partner to track things like preterm births, birth weights, age of the mother and other factors. The point is not just to give people rides, but to harness transportation to positively impact these outcomes.”

Currently, DOH is fundraising and recruiting potential new partners to aid in the program’s expansion, including service to suburban communities. The program is a key step in using mobile technology to solve a pressing societal issue. As innovative technology is integrated into autonomous vehicle development, the possibility of a driverless ride-sharing vehicle capable of transmitting the vital health information of passengers to doctors or hospitals on-route is moving closer to reality. Paul Vachon is a

The involvement of SisterFriends facilitates BabyRide’s assistance beyond birth. “SisterFriends works with the mother and child up to the baby’s first birthday, so BabyRide also offers trips to pediatrician appointments,” said Khaldun.

metro Detroit freelance writer.

DETROITER December 2017

TECHNOLOGY

IN MOTION:

Celebrating Detroit's Innovation Ecosystem

The three-day show highlights the region’s leadership in shaping connected cars, autonomous driving and mobility solutions By Melissa Anders

Quicken Loans founder and chairman Dan Gilbert chats with David Graff, global vice president of sales at MSX International, during the TIM Detroit exhibition.

accompanied by Detroit Moves, a threeday outdoor festival showcasing the future of mobility through live demonstrations presented by Gilbert’s Quicken Loans and the Detroit Regional Chamber’s MICHauto initiative.

ith a proven track record of innovation and career advancement, the region’s automotive industry, suppliers and service providers are becoming leading destinations for millennial talent. Nearly 2,500 people converged on downtown Detroit this past fall to check out the latest technological advancements in autonomous and electric vehicles, connected cars and mobility solutions. Organizers launched Technology in Motion (TIM) as a way for Detroit to promote its role as a leader in the automotive and mobility technology space. The Motor City serves as a technology hub with 70 percent of the automotive industry’s research and development money spent within 100 miles of Detroit, said David Graff, global vice president of sales at MSX International, a Detroit-based business process outsourcing firm. “There isn’t a single big event in the city that really highlights how creative and progressive

and full of technology the automotive industry is and how exciting it is to be part of that,” Graff said. For the last few years, Graff has been teaming up with Crain Communications Inc. to host a conference with the theme “Where Silicon Valley meets Detroit.” Quicken Loans founder and chairman Dan Gilbert speaks at the conference each year and suggested it expand to a larger event similar to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals in Austin. He envisioned a series of outdoor experiential events showcasing technology demonstrations along with art, music and food throughout the downtown, according to Graff. A big driver for the event is to attract top engineering and development talent, Graff said. Metro Detroit’s automotive companies want to show off the industry and the region as an exciting place to launch a tech career. The inaugural TIM conference and trade show was held in September at Cobo Center. It was

“Nowhere else in the country will you find a state with the resources, collaboration and commitment to develop the technology and ecosystem necessary to power the next generation of mobility,” said Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto and vice president of automotive and mobility initiatives for the Chamber. Stevens said the event honors Detroit’s automotive legacy and is the perfect platform to showcase Michigan’s leading role in the industry’s transformative change. TIM also included the Michigan STEM Careers Showcase hosted by the Michigan STEM Partnership and the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan. It featured exhibitors and panels from several educational organizations and companies to promote science, technology, engineering and math careers to students and parents. Four conference tracks highlighted connected cars, autonomous and electric vehicles, mobility solutions and digital consumer engagement. TIM featured exhibitions from OEMs, suppliers and startups. Nissan presented its

DETROITER DETROITERSeptember December 2015 2017

The 2018 Nissan LEAF.

2018 electric Leaf, which had been previously unveiled in Japan. General Motors showed off its all-electric lineup; and Toyota displayed the i-ROAD, its electric personal mobility vehicle. GM’s Maven ridesharing team was on hand, while Lear Corp. exhibited its smart seat with biometric sensors. Numerous startups featured technology ranging from automotive cybersecurity to an electric commuter scooter. Among this year’s 43 speakers included representatives from Ford Motor Co., Intel, and Lear Corp., along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and David DeRosa from Los Angeles-based engineering firm AECOM, who spoke about smart city and vehicleto-infrastructure projects. Additionally, 40 individuals competed in a hackathon to develop a parking application for the city of Detroit, while 16 startups and early-stage companies participated in a pitch competition. Kansas City, Mo.-based Mycroft won in the pitch competition’s connected car category

MSX International Global Vice President David Graff (right) and KC Crain, president and chief operating officer for Crain Communications Inc., open the 2017 TIM Detroit exhibition.

for its open-source voice assistant. LISNR won for mobility solutions and best overall pitch. The Cincinnati-based company offers ultrasonic audio technology that transmits data for in-vehicle connectivity. Organizers hope to grow the event in the coming years. “We had great turnouts and we think we have a great platform to build on for next year,” said KC Crain, president and chief operating officer for Crain Communications Inc.

Crain said the 2018 conference, scheduled for Sept. 19-21, will be “bigger and better.” Organizers are working with the North American International Auto Show to determine how to make both events serve as a “one-two punch” for the industry and city. “(TIM) is a real focus on the automotive technology,” Crain said. “We’re not as interested in launching vehicles as we are in showcasing the role that Detroit’s playing in the mobility space.” Melissa Anders is a Detroit native and freelance writer.

DETROITER December September2017 2014

(From left) Andrea Garrett, Bobby Chasnis, Ryan Michael and Charlie Tyson from Pure Michigan Business Connect, work inside the PlanetM Landing Zone in Detroit.

minivans that serve as the heart of Waymo’s autonomous vehicle development program. This year, however, AutoMobili-D expands its footprint almost five-fold, and one of its key goals will be to help link technology providers, especially local startups, with automotive manufacturers, or OEMs, in industry parlance. “We’re the only show to ever launch a platform on this scale,” said Max Muncey, public relations manager for NAIAS. The show has teamed up with both PlanetM and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) on the project, and the goal is to “pair organizations with similar interests together.”

Accelerating

Interest in

TECH STARTUPS AutoMobili-D and the PlanetM Landing Zone connect OEMs with mobility solutions By Paul A. Eisenstein

f you still think Michigan is the heart of the Rust Belt, expect some big surprises when the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens at Cobo Center in January. Sure, there will be the usual procession of new cars, trucks and crossovers making their debut, but dig deeper than their chrome and glossy paint and attendees will find that today’s latest models are loaded with advanced technologies developed in the Mitten State. The race to build next-generation automated, connected and electrified vehicles has launched a spending spree on a level the

automotive industry has never seen. Industry analysts put the price tag at well over $100 billion over the next five years. And while much of that is being spent in Silicon Valley – as well as tech centers in Europe and Asia – Southeast Michigan is rapidly becoming a ground zero technical hub. The 2018 NAIAS highlights the region’s role with AutoMobili-D, a showcase of automotive technology that coincides with the annual Media Preview Days. It is become a must-attend for the industry’s high-tech players – last year bringing the debut of the new Chrysler Pacifica hybrid

Companies do not have to be local to participate in AutoMobili-D. Last year, Canadian startup Acerta scored a $2 million contract with Germany’s ZF, and this year, Muncey said, the goal is to “throw some gasoline on the fire” to accelerate the match and deal making. SUSTAINING THE REGION’S TALENT POOL One of the key goals is to accelerate the development of Michigan’s homegrown automotive tech community. There has been an explosion of interest in the region since the automotive industry emerged from its recession. Downtown and Midtown have become particularly popular with high-tech entrepreneurs, many migrating from places like California. One reason has been the region’s concerted effort to attract startup talent with projects like Techstars Mobility, the incubator launched in 2015 with initial funding from Ford Motor Company, Verizon and Torontobased mega-supplier Magna International. Other corporate innovation partners now include Honda, Next 47, a division of Siemens, Bosch, Munich Re, Dana and Michelin. Techstars invests $120,000 in seed funding in 10 to a dozen mobility startups from around the world each year, bringing them to Detroit for an intensive 90-day program, where the incubator mentors and strategizes with them to help accelerate their growth. “We are trying to figure out who the people are with the next big idea,” said Techstars founder David Brown.

DETROITER December 2017

”We are trying to figure out who the people are with the next big idea.” — David Brown, Founder, Techstars The results have been significant, the first group of graduates generating almost $2 million apiece, on average, in funding. Over the last 18 months, Techstars has invested in 22 startups that have gone on to raise a collective $20 million. As a group, it notes, they are now valued at more than $100 million. These startups focus on everything from connected car tech to smart city solutions. Even optimists have been surprised by the rate at which the region has come roaring back since the industry hit bottom. While many of the region’s traditional employers are playing a role, the boom has also been fueled by the dramatic shifts taking place in the automotive industry – the push to develop connected, autonomous and electrified cars, as well as the emergence of new mobility business models like carsharing and ride-sharing. MAKING VALUABLE CONNECTIONS The PlanetM Landing Zone has a similar goal of both matchmaking automakers and promising tech firms and encouraging the

growth of Michigan's high-tech community, with an emphasis on startups. In partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber and MEDC, the PlanetM Landing Zone has set up an incubator hub in WeWork Merchant’s Row in the heart of Detroit. It offers subsidized and flexible space, strategic development assistance, networking opportunities and guidance in how to navigate the oftenbyzantine automotive world. Part of a statewide program, PlanetM is “an awareness campaign to let the world know that Michigan is where mobility and innovation is born,” said MEDC group vice president Trevor Pawl. “It's designed to let startups and larger corporates know that it's a hub for mobility and technology. It acts as a turnkey concierge to what's going in Michigan." PlanetM was born out of what Pawl describes as the “massive disruption” that nearly shattered the U.S. automotive industry at a time that was “exciting for the world but not for Michigan.” Today, PlanetM’s goal is to ensure that no matter what happens with the industry, as a whole, Michigan will not be nearly as vulnerable. PlanetM is creating a road map for public sector leadership around what happens next in the automotive industry.

Above: Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford visited Techstars, an incubator launched in 2015 with initial funding from Ford, Verizon and Magna International. Top and bottom left: Techstars invests $120,000 in seed funding in 10 different mobility startups from around the world each year. Pictured are a few startup companies working at the Techstar office.

The PlanetM Landing Zone will have a strong presence at both AutoMobili-D, as well as the annual conference of the Society of Automotive Engineers in 2018. Those with a sense of history note that Southeast Michigan was the Silicon Valley of its day, risk-taking entrepreneurs like Henry Ford and Billy Durant built the region out of what was a relatively sleepy backwater along the Great Lakes. Though places like California and Boston may today have the reputation for high-tech entrepreneurship, ventures like Techstars and PlanetM are working to prove that the state and region can be just as creative and competitive. And with the help of events like AutoMobili-D and connections through the PlanetM Landing Zone, the industry is quickly putting the region back find out more on the map ofTo entrepreneurs and investors about addressing the of alike. Paul A. Eisenstein is the publisher

long-term TheDetroitBureau.com.

workforce needs in Michigan, visit mibrightfuture.org.

DETROITER December September2017 2015

Changing Automotive MICHauto Summit celebrates the ‘cool’ culture and careers in the automotive industry By Daniel Lai

PERCEPTIONS

Students listen to a presentation on Detroit’s innovation during a tour of TechTown, an incubator and business accelerator for mobility startups, as part of the 2017 MICHauto Summit.

oday’s automotive industry is not the same industry of decades past. Fueled by cutting-edge technology innovation, complex software to power connectivity and automated driving systems, and sleek, modern designs that accommodate fuel economy standards, no other industry offers the opportunity to pursue the exciting, well-paying careers that appeal to younger generations.

said Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto and vice president of automotive and mobility initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber.

However, with a growing shortage of highly skilled talent necessary to fill manufacturing, software and engineering jobs, Michigan’s leadership in next-generation vehicle R&D remains in jeopardy.

“Mechanical and electrical engineers will always be a staple in the industry but now, the industry needs coders, software developers, technology scientists and data engineers to take those cars and connect them to the Internet of Things,” Stevens said. “The connected car will drastically change how people, services, goods and data are moved around us,” he added. “We have to ask ourselves, What are we doing to make '

“Long are the days where car companies are only interested in putting wheels on cars and getting them on the roads. The automotive industry has collided with high-tech and a revolution has begun,”

With more than 2,200 facilities that conduct automotive research, design, engineering, testing and validation in Michigan, the need to retain talent is greater than ever, Stevens said.

Musa Tariq, vice president and chief brand officer for Ford Motor Company, discusses Ford’s culture and the importance of maintaining your personal brand during a one-on-one conversation with Tim Stevens, editor-at-large for CNET, at the 2017 MICHauto Summit.

sure we're attracting, retaining and creating talent?' Our economic future depends on it.” This year’s MICHauto Summit was aimed at doing just that. The Summit, aptly titled “A Conversation on Culture & Careers,” brought together more than 300 industry leaders and high-pots (high-potential employees) with more than 100 students from colleges and universities across the state to showcase the industry’s diverse opportunities as part of a larger effort to close the perception gap and encourage more automotive interest among youths. In addition to tours of Detroit Labs, the PlanetM Landing Zone at WeWork, and TechTown, students heard from top industry thought leaders, including Faurecia’s Elizabeth Griffith, Toyota’s Kristen Tabar, Ford Motor Company’s Musa Tariq, Fontinalis Partners’ Chris Thomas, and May Mobility’s Steve Vozar, among others.

DETROITER December 2017

Several speakers reiterated the message that there is a place for everyone in the automotive industry and that liberal arts are just as important as technology and advanced engineering skills. “We are really looking for those people who want to … solve those mobility problems and challenges of the future. Those specialists in engineering and chemistry, finance, instrumentation, software, anthropology and everything in between,” Tabar said. “Our industry is really changing and we need talented problem solvers, researchers and deployers for all these modern technologies.” Tariq said he believes that talent lies in Detroit. “Innovation occurs in two spheres: Where there is surplus and where you create out of collective energy,” he said, adding that Detroit’s “go get it” attitude is infectious for youth looking to leave their mark on the world. Daniel Lai is the communications manager for the Detroit Regional Chamber and editor of the Detroiter.

Kristen Tabar, vice president of the Technical Strategy Planning Offi ce for Toyota Motor North America, delivers a keynote address on collaboration and nurturing human capital.

DETROITER December September2017 2015

Nexteer Automotive showcases its steering ondemand technology at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Global vehicle unveils are a highlight of the auto show.

Automotive’s Global Stage

REVAMPED AND REFRESHED North American International Auto Show showcases the future of mobility By Rod Alberts

etroit is where future mobility innovations meet the pavement. With the largest concentration of the world’s top automotive and technology executives, designers, engineers and thought leaders, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) serves as the global stage for companies to debut brand-defining vehicles and industry-shaping announcements. NAIAS is unmatched in the industry in presenting six unique shows in one, including: The Gallery, an ultra-luxury automotive event; AutoMobili-D, an inside look at future mobility platforms; Press Preview; Industry Preview; Charity Preview; and then concluding with a nine-day public show.



There are a lot of new things on tap for the 2018 NAIAS, some highlights include: 

Now in its 12th year, The Gallery is an ultra-luxury automotive event and has now become the official kickoff to NAIAS. New for 2018, The Gallery will be back at Cobo Center in the breathtaking atrium overlooking the international waterway. Guests will experience a nearly $10-million collection of the most acclaimed automobiles the world has to offer, including brands such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls Royce, to name just a few.



The inaugural launch of AutoMobili-D in 2017 featured more than 180 brands, ranging from automakers, to suppliers, to tech startups as well as universities and government organizations. No other event in North America provides an international platform for this vast array of companies, organizations and thought leaders under one roof. For 2018, AutoMobili-D will expand by 30,000 square feet and will now encompass 150,000 square feet and allow for more companies to showcase their technologies. In partnership with Michigan Economic Development Corp. and PlanetM, we are launching Match Meetings, a businessto-business and business-to-industry connection platform that will be a firstever at an auto show. As we look to grow audiences attending AutoMobili-D, this showcase now will extend into the first public show weekend (Jan. 20-21) and allow attendees to experience the latest innovations our industry has to offer. In addition, on that first public show weekend, AutoMobili-D will host FACE – Future Automotive Career Exposition – where attendees can interface with leading companies looking to fill open positions. Following Charity Preview this year, “After 9,” the NAIAS official Charity Preview

after-party at Cobo Center, allows you and your friends to stay inside and rock the night away. Enjoy memorable performances by Motown’s very own, The Four Tops, and returning favorite, Your Generation In Concert. After 9 is free to attend for all Charity Preview attendees. As you can see, 2018 is shaping up to be a significant year for our show and the great city of Detroit. NAIAS has a tremendous impact on our region, with an economic impact totaling $450 million. Our much-anticipated Charity Preview, started back in 1976 by a group of local Detroit automotive dealers, is the largest annual singlenight fundraiser in the world, with $5.2 million being raised for local children’s charities in 2017. In total, more than 800,000 people walked through the doors of the world-class Cobo Center and experienced the latest and greatest vehicles this world has to offer. It is an honor to be part of our nation’s most prestigious and influential automotive showcase, and I encourage you all to visit us in January. For more information on the show and additional details to all of the events, please visit NAIAS.com. Rod Alberts is the executive director of the North American International Auto Show.

DETROITER December 2017

Movin' Michigan legislators seek opportunities for advancement

very two years, political junkies begin to play their favorite parlor game, “Who’s Running for Congress?” Open seats in Congress are rare, however Michigan’s strictest-in-the nation term limits law not only forces legislators from office, but also opens opportunities for legislators to climb the next rung of the political ladder. The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC) has not made any endorsements for 2018, but below are legislators to keep an eye on as they look to advance their careers.

STEVE BIEDA

SENATOR D-WARREN Term limits can result in quick ascensions for legislators, but Steve Bieda has proven that patience will open doors as well. Bieda served three full terms in the Michigan House of Representatives, where he chaired the Tax Policy Committee, and two terms in the Senate. Bieda has a well-earned reputation for working across party lines to accomplish goals. With Sen. Mike Kowall (R-District 15), he formed the Legislature’s bipartisan Auto Caucus, which earned him the 2016 “Legislator of the Year” award from MICHauto. When U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI 9) chose to retire after his current term, Bieda threw his hat into the ring for the open seat, which covers parts of Oakland and Macomb counties. Bieda looks to be headed for a showdown with the incumbent’s son, Andy Levin.

TOM LEONARD

PETER LUCIDO

REPRESENTATIVE R-DEWITT

REPRESENTATIVE R-SHELBY TOWNSHIP

After starting his career as a Genesee County prosecutor, it is no surprise that Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard wants to be the state’s next attorney general. Serving his final term in the House of Representatives, Leonard will face Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) in the Republican Convention for the right to face off against the Democratic nominee in November. As Speaker, Leonard has been a champion for mental health and automotive insurance reform, but his most enduring legacy might be allowing important policies he did not personally support to move forward including the MI Thrive Initiative and Good Jobs for Michigan.

It takes a talented politician to earn the endorsement of such diverse organizations as the Detroit Regional Chamber and the UAW. That is just what Peter Lucido pulled off in a hotly contested Republican primary for the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014. After cruising in the general election and into a second term, Lucido has his sights set on the Senate's 8th District, encompassing a broad swath of Macomb County. Lucido has maximized his long career as an attorney to lead on criminal justice issues from his post on the House Law and Justice Committee. Now he is asking Macomb County voters for a promotion and four more years.

DETROITER December 2017

ON UP JEREMY MOSS

SYLVIA SANTANA

JIM TEDDER

REPRESENTATIVE D-SOUTHFIELD

REPRESENTATIVE D-DETROIT

REPRESENTATIVE R-CLARKSTON

Jeremy Moss has taken on some big challenges during his two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives. He arrived in Lansing after serving as the youngest elected official on the Southfield City Council. Moss jumped right in, taking leadership roles in a bipartisan effort to expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act through the creation of the Legislative Open Records Act. Most recently, Moss introduced legislation to make the biennial redrawing of district lines for the Legislature and Congress the purview of a nonpartisan commission. The 31-year-old is running for the state Senate, representing the 11th district in southern Oakland County.

First-term members of the Michigan House of Representatives can struggle to build the alliances that make for a successful political career. Sylvia Santana is defying conventional wisdom by launching her campaign for the state Senate’s 3rd district with the support of Mayor Mike Duggan and Council President Brenda Jones. Santana’s leadership stands out in her work to repeal driver responsibility fees that have been a particular impediment to low-income residents looking for work without proper transportation. She hopes that her term in office will convince voters in Detroit, Dearborn and Melvindale to elect her to the Senate.

With a career prior to politics that spanned small business ownership and education, Jim Tedder has a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Michiganders. In 2017, Tedder was named the chair of the House Tax Policy Committee. In that post, Tedder led the effort in the Michigan House to modernize the state’s tax structure to allow for economic development incentives that the state had not had at its disposal since 2011. Patiently, Tedder worked with his reticent colleagues to bring two key pieces of legislation over the finish line. Now, Tedder hopes to take the lessons learned to the Senate's 12th District covering much of northern Oakland County, Auburn Hills and Pontiac.

DETROITER December 2017

On the Roster

Join us in welcoming these new members to the Chamber. We encourage you to contact them for future business opportunities.

Premier

Clear Vision Detroit, Inc.

Better Made Snack Foods Inc. Mark Winkelman 10148 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48213-3211 (313) 925-4774 www.bettermadesnackfoods.com

661.877.8912

Add Better Made's line of best-selling seasoned potato chips such as BBQ, Red Hot, Sour Cream and Onion, Salt and Vinegar, and Sweet BBQ, you have the best line-up of snacks for any occasion. Better Made Potato Chips uses all natural resources and are untouched by human hands from the time the potatoes leave the farm until you bring the crunchy chips to your mouth. Better Made's over 85 years of progress have all been made in Detroit, using Michigan potatoes for 10 months of the year and drawing from Mother Nature's harvest schedule in Florida, Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Minnesota, or wherever the best potatoes are available for the remainder of the year.

Detroit Arena Ventures

General

A Star Valet of Michigan www.astarvalet.com

AMBR Detroit ambrdetroit.com

Ambrell Induction Heating Solutions

Continental Currency Exchange Canada Ltd. www.continentalcurrency.ca

DC3S

www.dc3s.com www.sportsandsocialdetroit.com and www.mikespizzabardetroit.com

Detroit City Distillery

www.detroitcitydistillery.com

Dominion Systems

www.dominionsystems.com

Drive Table Tennis Social Club www.drive-detroit.com

DSDT A Detroit School for Digital Technology www.dsdt.tech.com

Gingras Global

www.gingrasglobalgroups.com

America's Future Foundation

Images CSS Consultant

americasfuture.org

313.820.6129

AOS- American Office Solutions

Lexus Velodrome

517.783.2855

www.detroitfitness.org

Ariel Raddler Consultant, Payroll & Business Services

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Bakersfield

New Start Construction Company, LLC

CBS Radio Detroit www.cbsdetroit.com

Skillo

www.tryskillo.com

Snack Detroit

www.snackdetroit.com

Stoneridge Inc.

www.stoneridge.com

SunGlo Restoration Services www.sungloservices.com

Sutherland Leadership Strategies www.sutherlandleadership.com

Universal Special Events

650.453.8746

www.citymoderndetroit.com

www.us.belfor.com

www.shapecorp.com

ESO ReDevelopment, LLC

www.aarda.org

Belfor USA

Shape Corporation

Ternes Packaging

www.eitprofessionals.com

Hunter Pasteur Homes

www.bamboodetroit.com

www.servproromulustaylor.com

E-IT Professionals Corp.

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

Bamboo Detroit, LLC

SERVPRO of Romulus/Taylor, Westland/West Garden City, Downriver

Synergy Solutions

www.eisehowerdance.org

Hope-Healing-Health (H3)

www.thunderdomerestaurants.com

www.rockfordconstruction.com

Eisenhower Dance

www.ambrell.com

248.867.7068

Rockford Construction

www.h3emotionalwellness.com

248.258.1750 http://www.morganstanleybranch.com/ birmingham/

313.300.8940

Otus Supply

www.otussupply.com

REMAX Dream Properties www.wownowhomes.com

River Strategies

www.riverstrategies.com

synergysolutions.careers www.ternespkg.com

www.universalspecialeventsincorporated. com

W.F. Whelan Co.

www.wfwhelanco.com

Walker & Associates www.walker-nunez.com

Forward Detroit Rockford Construction Shape Corporation Stoneridge Inc.

DETROITER December 2017

Up and Coming Mark your calendar with these regional business events

January 24

Mackinac Sneak Peek Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Riverfront 2 Washington Blvd. Detroit, MI 48226

March 22

Digital Marketing Secrets Revealed Greektown Casino-Hotel 555 E. Lafayette St. Detroit, MI 48226

5 to 7 p.m.

7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

$15 Chamber members and future members

$55 Chamber members; $99 Future members

Attendees will discover everything the 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference has to offer with a brief overview of the ins and outs of the Conference, can’t miss programming and events, and the best ways to network on the island.

Focusing on advanced digital marketing strategy, this event will provide a glimpse into the discipline’s future as well as tips on hiring and managing digital marketing talent.

March 1

2018 Detroit Policy Conference MotorCity Casino Hotel 2901 Grand River Ave. Detroit, MI 48201 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $159 Chamber members; $235 Future members The 2018 Detroit Policy Conference will bring together business, community and political leaders to focus on creating a culture of civility in Detroit.

April 13

2018 State of Education

7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The 2018 State of Education will offer an analysis of how the Detroit region is performing by providing insights on education legislation, challenges schools currently face, and opportunities to ensure success moving forward.

April 19

Inside the CEO Mind Townsend Hotel 100 Townsend St. Birmingham, MI 48009 8 to 10 a.m. $30 Chamber members; $50 Future members Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumers Energy, will share her insight and journey as the company’s first female president.

May 29 – June 1

2018 Mackinac Policy Conference Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island $2,100 Chamber members; $3,000 Future members The Mackinac Policy Conference — the Detroit Regional Chamber’s premier event — brings together business and government leaders to re-energize Michigan. Approximately 1,700 attendees will gather for the 2018 Conference, held at the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

DETROITER December 2017

In the News Good things are happening to businesses throughout metro Detroit The JRT Agency is proud to announce the launch of its newly restructured digital division and methodology “H.E.D” – Human Experience Design. Known for creating innovative solutions for clients across all verticals, the agency is pioneering an approach that will change the way consumers and businesses tackle digital marketing. Butzel Long attorney James Townsend has been elected to Wayne State University’s chapter of the Order of the Coif, the highest academic honor accorded to law school graduates nationwide. Wayne State University recently announced the opening of its Wayne Innovation Hub to coordinate and enhance its programs for entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, and community partnerships, and to enhance the university’s overall culture of innovation. Attorneys Leslie Rojas and Jeffrey Schroder of Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms, were recently elected to several leadership positions within the State Bar of Michigan’s Health Care Law Section. Foster Swift attorney Katila Howard was one of five recipients for the “Five Under Ten” Young Alumni Recognition Award at the 2017 Black Alumni Association of the University of Michigan awards gala. The award is given annually to recent U of M graduates who are recognized by their peers for achievements in their respective professional fields and contributions in the community. Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that 53 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in DBusiness magazine’s “2018 Top Lawyers.” The magazine honors the leading lawyers across Southeast Michigan. DTE Energy recently announced plans to create an "ultra-low" emission energy infrastructure to power Ford Motor Company’s Research and Engineering Center in Dearborn. DTE will build, own and operate a host of advanced sustainability systems including natural air flow ventilation, geothermal heating and cooling, and solar in a state-of-the-art energy infrastructure serving the Dearborn campus. Recently, Capital Impact Partners — with support from JPMorgan Chase & Co. — announced a new $5 million program committed to help more minority real estate developers participate in Detroit’s continued economic recovery by providing them with training opportunities and access to capital. The program will help 15 to 20 new minority developers grow their business.

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in Southeast Michigan and Mercy Health recently announced that they will combine the two health systems into one statewide system to create a strong, people-centered care delivery network across Michigan. Nemeth Law PC has again been recognized as a tier-one law firm by U.S. News & World Report in its 2018 list of “Best Law Firms.” Nemeth Law is ranked in the metropolitan rankings in the category of employment law – management and labor law management. The American Society of Employers (ASE) is pleased to announce that 17 organizations joined ASE as members during the third quarter of 2017. Otus Supply was recently named “Best Restaurant for General Excellence,” “Best New Business,” “Best Bar,” and “Best Restaurant Ambiance” in the annual Ferndale Best of Awards presented by the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. State Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) and State Sen. Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) were recently recognized at the 17th annual AT&T and Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Michigan Virtual Student Technology Showcase, for their dedication to improving education and fostering the use of technology and innovation in schools across Michigan.

Mahindra Automotive North America headquarters grand opening celebration. SS Digital Media, an industry leader in digital marketing, has been awarded the “Best of MichBusiness” award in the Marketing and PR Prophets category by MichBusiness, powered by MBPA (Michigan Business and Professionals Association). Winners in this category are “laserfocused on the right audience with the right answer, at the right time.” Lear Corp., a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, recently announced that Matt Simoncini will retire as president and CEO effective Feb. 28. Ray Scott, executive vice president and president of seating, will be appointed president and CEO. AccessPoint, a full-service human resources, staffing and recruiting organization, recently named Luis Perez as president and chief operating officer. Perez will manage and direct growth initiatives including strategic acquisition. Mahindra Automotive North America opened a new North American headquarters and manufacturing operation in November, the first new OEM facility in Southeast Michigan in more than 25 years. The expansion is part of a $230 million investment in Southeast Michigan that also includes a recently-opened warehouse and logistics operation in Pontiac and an existing prototype operation in Troy.

LET’S DRIVE

MICHIGAN FORWARD.

TOGETHER.

FROM FUELING A NEW GENERATION OF PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES to providing energy to drive business in Michigan, we’re supporting a clean and sustainable future. Learn more about Alternative Fuel Vehicle options at ConsumersEnergy.com/pev

Solar Gardens power plants began operating in 2016 at Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University. 104098