“PlanetM” Is Key Element Of Michigan Strategy To Shape Its Own Destiny Through Public-Private Partnerships, Part 1

Shortly after the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Dr Ken Washington of the Ford Motor Company predicted that things will change more for that industry in the next five years than they had in the first hundred. However, while automotive may be the current nexus of attention in coming transformation, it is clearly just one part of how society as a whole will become radically different in Dr Washington’s projected time frame. [1,2,3]

How far do the bounds of this space extend? We’ve already touched on some of the areas here with Saline Journal, including data exchange from ubiquitous technologies ranging from personal cell phones to city street lights. Findings of the elaborate downtown parking study presented to Saline City Council just last September already may well be completely out-of-date. [4,5,6,7]

The impact will be felt in the relationships between otherwise healthy patients and their primary care physicians, to the quality of life enjoyed by elderly and disabled populations. Locally, think Brecon Village to the Reichart Building and St Joseph Mercy Hospital. [8,9,10,11]

Recognizing an opportunity to secure a position at the forefront of this, the State of Michigan launched its “PlanetM” initiative under the Michigan Economic Development Corporation during the summer of 2016. Nineteen months later, PlanetM was the news with Automobili-D at the opening of NAIAS 2018 (with apologies to Steve McQueen). A mere two years ago, Automobili-D was quaintly described as “novel.” [12,13,14,15,16,17,18]

How often have you wondered about the technologies being deployed from our own Faurecia plant on East Michigan Avenue? What’s being developed at Toyota Motor North America R&D on Platt Road? How far transportation paradigms have already been disrupted by Ann Arbor-based May Mobility? [19,20,21,22,23]

As part of our own developing coverage of the 2019 North American International Auto Show, Saline Journal connected with Kathryn Snorrason, Business Development Manager with PlanetM, to help us begin laying the groundwork for this context in terms of where things have come to stand today.

“The discussion has been on autonomous vehicles and supporting tech for years,” she began, “but recently Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers are trying to adjust and adapt to this next revolution in transportation. You could easily make the argument that the automotive industry has advanced more in the past ten years than the previous fifty.

“PlanetM supports that through a number of efforts, including match meetings, international delegations and the Landing Zone, a collaborative co-working space for mobility startups and automotive corporations.”

What does this mean in terms of numbers?

“At Automobili-D this year, more than 65 mobility startups will be exhibiting and over four hundred match meetings are expected between corporates and startups, with fifty corporates and 130 global mobility startups registered to participate.” On top of that, “PlanetM hosts a Pitch Competition, in conjunction with TechStars, and the PlanetM awards, which recognizes 5 category winners and a best in show from Automobili-D exhibitors. For the second year, NAIAS will also be hosting the Future Automotive Career Expo (FACE) to connect job seekers with leading employers and professionals in the automotive industry.”

The second part of this two-part feature will run tomorrow in Saline Journal. Among the questions to be answered: “Where and what will PlanetM be when NAIAS is held in 2025?” [23]

References

1. North American International Auto Show (home page).
2. “It’s Important to Understand What Being a ‘Smart City’ Means to Saline, Part 4” Dell Deaton (April 27, 2018) Saline Journal.
3. “It’s Important to Understand What Being a ‘Smart City’ Means to Saline, Part 3” Dell Deaton (April 20, 2018) Saline Journal.
4. “Trust is the Biggest Obstacle to a Mobility Revolution; Established Players Are Directly Asking You for It, Now” Dell Deaton (June 7, 2018) Saline Journal.
5. “Ann Arbor SPARK Event Truly Showed Attendees The Bigger Potential Of American Center For Mobility At Willow Run” Dell Deaton (July 10, 2018) Saline Journal.
6. “Saline City Council Work Meeting 9-10-2018” City of Saline (September 17, 2018) Vimeo.
7. “Autonomous Vehicles Promise to Solve Downtown Parking Problems” Dell Deaton (March 19, 2018) Saline Journal.
8. “On-Demand Ride Service Is Up-And-Running With ‘Room To Room’ Transportation Services For Elderly, Disabled” Janet Deaton (July 11, 2018) Saline Journal.
9. “Brecon Village” EHM Senior Solutions.
10. “Reichert Health Center” St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
11. St Joseph Mercy – Ann Arbor: Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (home page).
12. “Gov Rick Snyder, state launches ‘Planet M’ campaign, positioning Michigan as global leader in mobility innovation” (June 1, 2016) Michigan.
13. “Michigan launches ‘Planet M’ to position state as mobility leader” Paula Gardner (June 2, 2016) mLive.
14. “PlanetM” Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
15. “Automobili-D” North American International Auto Show.
16. “‘AutoMobili-D’ Is Detroit Auto Show’s Answer To Butting In By Technology Exhibitions” Dale Buss (September 30, 2016) Forbes.
17. “Ford shows off 2019 Mustang Bullitt, finds original 1968 Fastback at Detroit auto show” Phoebe Wall Howard (January 14, 2018) Detroit Free Press.
18. “Automobili-D brings novel technology to Detroit auto show” Eric D Lawrence (January 12, 2017) Detroit Free Press.
19. Faurecia (home page).
20. “‘Smart’ Automobile Interiors That You’ll Experience On Future Roadways Are Being Developed Today in Saline, Michigan” Dell Deaton (August 30, 2018) Saline Journal.
21. “Operations” Toyota.
22. May Mobility (home page).
23. “A Not-So-Sexy Plan to Win at Self-Driving Cars” Aarian Marshall (December 4, 2018) Wired.
24. “‘PlanetM’ Is Key Element Of Michigan Strategy To Shape Its Own Destiny Through Public-Private Partnerships, Part 2” Dell Deaton (December 28, 2018) Saline Journal.