Since its formation in July 2020, the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), which lives within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), has taken a statewide approach to support government, education and private sector success in the developing mobility industry. In an effort to capitalize on the electric vehicle boom, Michigan is working alongside its in-state and Midwest peers to optimize state mobility initiatives, assuring that the state remains a robust automotive hub for the foreseeable future.
The urgency around electrification and sustainability in Michigan and the Midwest remains substantial, with experts predicting that electric vehicles will surpass internal combustion engine vehicle sales by 2030. Since 2019, large EV research and development investments have continued to pave the way for the industry. Now, the Midwest is readying its infrastructural ecosystem to lead the way in encouraging and attracting electric vehicle companies to the region, broadening market share, accelerating consumer adoption and advocating for a sustainable future.
“Michigan put the world on wheels, and as we move into the next generation of transportation technologies, we need to ensure we remain the global hub for the mobility and electrification industry,” said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer. “While Michigan remains an undisputed leader in mobility, there is more work to be done, including increasing the state’s share of electric vehicle production, building a stronger pipeline of software engineering talent, and leveraging technology to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities.”
The past year has seen significant investments in Michigan’s mobility and electrification industry. In January 2020, General Motors announced a $2.2 billion investment at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant to produce electric vehicles. The following October, it invested another $150 million in five Michigan assembly plants. By September, Ford Motor Company confirmed the construction of its new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center where it will build the all-electric F-150 by mid-2022. Lordstown Motors Corp., a leader in electric light-duty trucks, established an R&D facility in Farmington Hills, building on Michigan’s automotive leadership.
By tapping into public-private partnerships, leveraging automotive manufacturing expertise and creating a more favorable regulatory environment by shaping forward-looking policies, OFME will position Michigan companies for long-term success and affirm Michigan’s title of automotive capital of the world. To learn more about OFME and its mission to build a stronger economy through safer, more equitable and environmentally conscious transportation, visit michiganbusiness.org/ofme
