Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week released a new statewide Future Mobility Plan that would address mobility challenges by growing the mobility workforce, providing more accessible transportation, and developing innovative mobility policies.
The plan coordinates efforts across multiple state departments and agencies, Whitmer’s office said, and ensures the state remains a global leader in future mobility.
“Michigan put the world on wheels, and remaining the global leader in mobility and electrification depends on our ability to work together proactively to address future challenges,” Whitmer said. “The MI Future Mobility Plan presents a unified approach and strategy to grow Michigan’s economy, invest in our workforce, and empower communities across the state through responsive policy and programming that prepares us for the future. It includes several goals for us to work towards and brings together partners across state government to get it done.”
The plan was developed by the governor’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) and the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification. The two groups were formed in 2020 to coordinate the state’s mobility strategy and plan actional next steps to address the challenges the state faces.
“Michigan has a long heritage of success in automotive manufacturing and innovation,” said Trevor Pawl, OFME’s Chief Mobility Officer. “As the mobility industry continues to grow and evolve, we are laser-focused on leveraging our state’s talented workforce, ecosystem and available business resources to make Michigan a place where multi-modal mobility solutions are born, and companies can find long-term success and support.”
The plan lays out goals to create a stronger state economy through safer, more equitable and environmentally sound transportation, including transitioning and growing the state’s mobility industry and workforce; providing safer, greener and more accessible transportation infrastructure; and leading the world in mobility and electrification policy and innovation.
“This strategy is a great step forward for our state and its efforts to remain the global leader in mobility,” said Glenn Stevens Jr., executive director of MICHauto and vice president of automotive and mobility initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber. “The honest assessment of the industry’s strengths and areas of opportunity paired with direct action items will bolster the state’s competitiveness through the industry’s ongoing evolution.”