Michigan state officials are espousing the benefits of its Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), which is slated to develop mobility and electrification policies and support startup technologies.
Trevor Pawl has been selected by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to serve as the state’s Chief Mobility Officer, as a means of reaffirming Michigan’s position as the global leader in producing and developing the next-generation of transportation technologies.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that Michigan strengthen opportunities for economic growth and job creation while securing our continued leadership in mobility and electrification through forward-thinking policies, innovative partnerships, and smarter infrastructure,” Whitmer said. “Trevor has a proven track record of building and scaling state programs like Pure Michigan Business Connect and PlanetM. He is the right person to bring Michigan’s mobility ecosystem together under a common vision and generate meaningful results.”
The endeavor seeks to increase mobility investment in Michigan, expand the state’s smart infrastructure, engage more mobility startups, further enable Michigan’s mobility workforce, accelerate electric vehicle adoption in Michigan, and bolster Michigan’s mobility manufacturing core.
Jeff Donofrio, director of the Michigan Department Labor and Economic Opportunity, said the announcement builds on the work the state has done to help advance the competitiveness of Michigan’s automotive core and grow the ecosystem around the new companies and technology reshaping mobility.
“Developing a holistic statewide approach to mobility and electrification will be critical in helping our economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to creating a more diverse economy and workforce,” he said.