Self-driving cars are coming

As the North American International Auto Show kicks off this week at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, there will be the usual parade of new models, world debuts, panels and press conferences. But there will also be something new in the air. Attendees this year will have the opportunity to experience the latest mobility-focused technologies and innovative platforms, start-ups and suppliers with the addition of the AutoMobili-D. No other event in North America provides such an international platform for the future of mobility and self-driving cars. 

This forward-looking focus couldn’t come at a better time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) more than 35,000 Americans died in traffic accidents in 2016. NHTSA also found that a startling 94% of roadway fatalities are tied to human errors. Connected and automated vehicle technologies have tremendous potential to cut congestion, increase access to mobility services, and save thousands of lives.

Developing connected and automated vehicle technologies is critically important for the United States to stay on the forefront of research and innovation. Here in Michigan we’re leading the way in a variety of factors: we have a nexus of engineering talents, automotive research and development centers, and world-class universities that remain on the cutting-edge of developing vehicle innovations. The American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti – a world-class, collaborative testing facility – was recently designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as a national proving ground for connected and automated vehicle technology. This 330-acre testing center located on the site of the former Willow Run Powertrain plant is now open for business and is bringing government, academia and industry together to test new technologies in real-world conditions.