Detroiter Magazine: December, 2018

ELECTRIFICATION LEADERS: LOOK UNDER THE HOOD OF INNOVATION

READY OR NOT: IS MICHIGAN PREPARED FOR EV ROLLOUT?

SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC: EARLY ADOPTERS WEIGH IN

A Publication of the Detroit Regional Chamber December 2018 • US $4.00

BUILDING ENERGY’S FUTURE,

TODAY.

Every day, DTE Energy is working to build the energy grid of tomorrow. We’re investing in advanced technologies and cleaner generation to make the grid smarter, more resilient, and more reliable. And that means that affordable energy will always be there where you need it, when you need it.

Law Firm of the Year

The Verdict is in ...

Plunkett Cooney is proud to be named the first ever Law Firm of the Year by Crain’s Detroit Business. For more than a century, our attorneys and staff have been making a difference from the boardroom to the courtroom to the community.

Additional Media Honors: n

Among U.S. News / Best Lawyers 2018 Best Law Firms in America

n

Among National Law Journal’s Leading Law Firms for Female Diversity

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW Thomas P. Vincent, President & CEO 248.594.6777 | tvincent@plunkettcooney.com Michigan

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THE ROLE OF ELECTRIFICATION IN MICHIGAN D E C E M B E R 2 01 8

DETROITER

• V O L U M E 110 , I S S U E 4

COVER IMPACT

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THE MOVE TO ELECTRIC Government emissions standards and the international market are a game-changer for Michigan’s OEMs.

18

MICHIGAN’S EV LEADERS Automakers and suppliers across the region are bringing cuttingedge technology to market.

ELECTRIFYING MOBILITY May Mobility’s Edwin Olson and Magna International’s Swamy Kotagiri are working together to bring electric autonomous shuttles to the masses.

22

OEM ROUNDUP Take a closer look at electrification plans for FCA, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota.

26

DETROIT TO TRAVERSE CITY See what it’s like to take a trip up north in an EV using compatible charging stations.

28

TAKE 5 Early adopters share what they like about driving an EV.

30

A CALL TO ARMS The Michigan EIBC’s newest report outlines key ways the state can position itself to lead in electrification.

32

CONNECTING TOMORROW’S AUTOMOBILITY TALENT The 2018 MICHauto Summit convenes industry leaders with young talent.

CHALLENGES

ACTION

8

34

MEMBERSHIP

CONTENTS

Publisher Tammy Carnrike, CCE

36

LEGISLATORS TO WATCH Detroit’s newest crop of state legislators are poised to tackle automotive insurance reform, education and job creation.

38

POINT OF VIEW Learn how state incentives could help increase sales of EVs.

THE ROAD TO ZERO EMISSIONS With plans to rollout 56 new EV models by 2022, Michigan faces numerous challenges including lack of charging infrastructure and consumer awareness.

Managing Editor Megan Spanitz Editor Daniel Lai Associate Editor Kelly Weatherwax Art Director Melissa Knapp Photographers Bethany Desmond Melissa Knapp Katie Krizanich Andy Sandifer Courtesy photos Advertising Director Jim Connarn Advertising Representatives Laurie Scotese Glennon Martin Research Analysts Angela Ladetto Christyn Lucas Back Issues 313.596.0391

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DETROITER

Executive Summary

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Executive Summary

DETROITER

FROM THE PRESIDENT

NAIAS EVOLUTION IS GOOD FOR THE REGION’S ECONOMY For Michiganders and thousands of automotive enthusiasts across the world, January in Detroit means one thing: it’s auto show time in the city. The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) — Detroit’s pre-eminent event — celebrates all that our region and its legacy industry offer. It is the symbol of a region and industry reborn.

NAIAS is as synonymous to the Motor City as Motown music.

The auto show is the epitome of Detroit and Michigan’s automobility leadership and innovative spirit. From the cool car unveils to catching a glimpse of tomorrow’s technology rapidly being developed and deployed in Michigan, no other event quite captures the excitement and transformation taking place in the industry.

One of the most influential global automotive events, NAIAS touches all facets of the industry and attracts the largest concentration of the world’s top industry leaders – from automakers and suppliers, to tech startups and venture capitalists, to universities and policymakers. Last year alone, more than 809,161 people attended the show over its twoweek run. The economic impact to our city and region: an estimated $480 million.

Additionally, as Michigan positions itself as the epicenter of the traditional automotive industry and a leader in the creation and innovation of next-generation mobility solutions, the immense impact of the global media telling Detroit’s story during NAIAS is invaluable. In 2018, more than 5,000 credentialed journalists from 23 countries and 37 states experienced firsthand the convergence of automotive and technology taking place in Michigan. No other place on the

planet is better suited to tackle the mobility challenges of our shared connected, electric, autonomous future while meeting the needs of today’s consumers.

Keeping the show in Detroit is critical to our local economy and the decision by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association to move NAIAS to June 2020 should be commended. At a time when the industry is changing rapidly, evolving the format of NAIAS to match that excitement makes sense. As automakers are making important decisions on what shows to attend, a summer show format will keep Detroit competitive.

The warmer summer season opens NAIAS up to endless opportunities for automakers and suppliers to showcase the latest advancements in mobility solutions and vehicle design both inside Cobo and on the streets of Detroit, building on the city’s rich history as an automotive powerhouse and global newsmaker. What better way to continue to show that Michigan is the place to create, innovate and move the world than a monthlong celebration of automotive beginning with the Grand Prix and culminating with NAIAS? This change also provides the premier backdrop to showcase the new investment, businesses, public space revitalization, and quality of life our region enjoys.

SANDY K. BARUAH PRESIDENT AND CEO, DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER

As we close another chapter in NAIAS’ spectacular history, I look forward to what the future holds for Detroit and the auto show. Walking the show floor and viewing Michigan’s finest ingenuity up-close is something I look forward to every year. And now, I won’t have to remember my coat. See you at the show.

EnErgizing MiCHigAn’s

Future

ITC operates, builds and maintains the region’s electric transmission infrastructure.

We’re dedicated to building the type of reliable power grid that’s necessary to support the growth of electric vehicles in the coming decades.

Building the electric transmission infrastructure that will power the future. www.itc-holdings.com

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Executive Summary

DETROITER

ELECTRIFYING TRANSIT

FOR A CHANGING LIFESTYLE THE FACTS

Q: While Michigan is the epicenter of automotive, the state’s

share of EV sales remains low. What do we need to do to boost the adoption rate?

0.5

%

MICHIGAN’S 2017 EV MARKET SHARE 1

A: Whether it’s Michigan or any other state, range anxiety and lack

of infrastructure play a huge role in adoption. Communities can ease the transition by investing in infrastructure and helping make more mobility options available. At May, we’ve started the process in solving these issues.

EDWIN OLSON CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, MAY MOBILITY

See cover story for expansion, page 8

Executive Summary

DETROITER

THE COMING ELECTRIFICATION As the global automotive industry shifts its focus to electrification, things are beginning to heat up in Michigan.

Consider the fact that most of the major automakers have announced plans to rollout myriad EV projects within the next five years, utility companies are working on innovative strategies to meet increased demand, and organizations like the Michigan Public Service Commission and other stakeholder groups continue to advocate for policy at the state level.

Companies like AAM, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Co., Lear Corporation, May Mobility, Magna International, and others have already invested millions overhauling their business strategy to stay ahead of this major transportation shift. Suppliers large and small across the state are increasingly focused on improving the battery life, drivetrain and other components necessary for these vehicles.

By all accounts, Michigan is ripe for increased EV adoption, a precursor for wider rollout of the connected, autonomous vehicles of the future. However, we must also acknowledge several key challenges such as expanded access to charging stations, consumer cost and overall awareness.

According to the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, Michigan ranks in the top half nationally for EVs, however we lag states like California and New York on infrastructure, for example.

Additionally, the supply chain, which is critical to automakers’ EV plans, remains skeptical that adoption will occur as quickly as OEMs hope without a more robust user engagement strategy.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES AVAILABLE IN U.S.

OUR REGION

1

BY THE NUMBERS

TODAY

900

$

50+ MODELS

COST TO INSTALL HOME CHARGING SYSTEM (LEVEL 2) 5 AN ADDITIONAL 56 MODELS PLANNED

BY 2022

TOP 6 SELLING ELECTRIC VEHICLES 1

2

Chevy Volt 4

Nissan Leaf 5

Toyota Prius Plug-In

Ford Fusion Energi

$7,500

MAXIMUM FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR QUALIFYING EV 2

Tesla Model S 6

Ford C-Max Energi

Together account for 80% of U.S. EV sales (2010 - June 2016).

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

3

Number per 10,000 residents, 2016

75

CHARGING STATIONS BETWEEN DETROIT AND TRAVERSE CITY (LEVEL 2)

3

410/1,141

PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS/OUTLETS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN 4

15TH MICHIGAN’S PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS RANK 1

2,742 MICHIGAN’S EV SALES (2017) 1

The market will be blended for the next decade, experts agree. One thing is clear: whether it’s hybrids, fully electric, or some combination of both, the transportation evolution is not an “if ” but “when.”

Our state and region have an opportunity to lead the nation in this new technology. The question remains, “Is Michigan prepared?”

Answering that question in the affirmative requires all the players working together to create a framework to tackle these challenges with the innovative know-how that defines the Great Lakes State.

7

268,729 U.S. EV SALES (OCTOBER 2018) 6 0.5 to 1.3

3.1 to 4.7

1.3 to 2.0

4.7 to 7.4

2.0 to 2.5

7.4 to 32

2.5 to 3.1

SOURCES: 1. Evadoption.com, 2. Union of Concerned Scientists, 3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 4. U.S. Dept. of Energy, 5. ecowatch.com, 6. insideevs.com

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Executive Summary

ACCELERATING OUR

ELECTRIFIED

AUTONOMOUS WORLD

Riders catch a trip in the May Mobility autonomous, electric shuttle in downtown Detroit during the Detroit Moves festival.

By Claire Charlton and Glenn Stevens

Michigan has long been known as the global epicenter of automotive design, research and engineering. As the industry undergoes one of its most profound changes, companies large and small are leading the charge in developing nextgeneration technologies that are ushering in a new era of mobility solutions around connected, electrified and autonomous vehicles.

As major players in this space, global parts supplier Magna International and Ann Arbor startup May Mobility are changing the paradigm of industry collaboration, working together to bring electric, autonomous shuttles to the masses and contributing to Michigan’s mobility transformation. Each bring unique contributions to the industry and their partnership as providers of technology.

The Detroiter interviewed Swamy Kotagiri, chief technology officer for Magna International, and Edwin Olson, CEO and co-founder of May Mobility, on how they are leveraging the decades-old experience and knowhow of a traditional supplier with the innovative prowess of a startup to forge solutions for today’s mobility needs with clear eyes on the future to help solve tomorrow’s global challenges.

DETROITER

Q:

Executive Summary

9

How is Magna’s R&D expertise helping expand the global automotive industry’s commitment to electrification?

KOTAGIRI: There are a lot of bold predictions

about the future of mobility. For Magna, we believe the future is, at least in part, electric and autonomous. If we look at the overall Magna product portfolio, we are addressing mobility as a whole including key areas of autonomy, electrification, connectivity and shared mobility.

On electrification specifically, Magna is engaged in not only hybrid and electric powertrain systems, but also with developing electric and electro-mechanical systems.

What was once six or so basic powertrain architectures will balloon to more than 50 by 2025. Magna is focused on the development of scalable building blocks to support such proliferation. Our deep understanding of vehicle system requirements helps us ensure these developed solutions support powertrain system level needs for all the different areas of mobility.

May Mobility and Magna International are partnering to scale and deploy autonomous, electric shuttles in cities around the country.

May brings a pure startup mentality to this partnership.

Magna is an established global technology supplier.

What are the challenges and opportunities of this partnership?

Magna is committed to innovative partnerships to bring technology to the market. What led Magna to partner on May Mobility’s automated, electrified shuttle?

OLSON:

KOTAGIRI: We are excited to support

Magna International is our manufacturing partner. While the vehicle design and autonomy stack is engineered by May Mobility, Magna helps bring our vision to life at scale, enabling us to retrofit hundreds, and eventually thousands of shuttles. Magna shares our high technical standards and excitement about servicing the growing demand for selfdriving vehicles to meet today’s transportation needs. This deal demonstrates our commitment to scale operations with a partner who understands quality and reliability in the build process, and who can match the exacting process that makes us a trusted community partner.

May Mobility demonstrates its shuttle service in downtown Detroit.

EDWIN OLSON

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, MAY MOBILITY

new mobility efforts like this one, which will ultimately help getting around crowded city centers easier. Partnerships like with May Mobility provide the opportunity to continue playing a role in the startup ecosystem and serve as cornerstones to Magna’s “open for business” mindset. Through this approach we look at all aspects of mobility, including privately owned vehicles, ride-sharing, ride-hailing, and mobility as a service, and we consider how we can help build solutions for startups like May Mobility.

SWAMY KOTAGIRI

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MAGNA INTERNATIONAL

10 Executive Summary

DETROITER

DRIVE LESS & LIVE MORE

May Mobility is working with cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids to provide transportation that is accessible and convenient for everyone.

Experts assert that low-speed, shared electric shuttles on a fixed route, like May Mobility, are the first widely-deployed autonomous vehicles. Why is this an appropriate beginning?

For new technology partnerships to emerge and new mobility solutions to be brought to life, what are the critical success factors for Michigan?

What have you learned from your pilot programs in Detroit and Michigan and how will that data drive your decisions on EV shuttle deployment?

OLSON:

KOTAGIRI: Around the world, the next

OLSON: The value of getting out to

Deploying low-speed electric shuttles on limited route networks is a practical solution to many existing transportation problems using technology that’s ready and safe now. By giving real people, not opt-in test subjects, a chance to experience self-driving vehicles in a controlled setting, we believe we will be able to scale the technology more quickly. And by easing people into the whole idea of self-driving cars in a way that helps them in their daily routine, we are also able to collect early-stage data and customer feedback.

generation of mobility and the requirements for mobility as a service are being defined in part by a new class of service providers, like May Mobility. Large cities are beginning to dictate requirements for powertrain, especially EVs, full autonomous capability and vehicle use cases, such as no single occupants. Sharing of mobility and making it multifunctional are the next steps in improving city access, passenger movement and access to services.

Partnerships will ensure there is support in place for implementing new solutions driven by mobility’s transformation.

market as the first fleet of self-driving shuttles is immeasurable. From user experience to business models to corner cases experienced in the streets of Detroit, we’re learning something every day about how real people want to use and interact with self-driving vehicles in their everyday lives. We’re able to draw on years of experience with the talent that’s available in the Motor City, while drawing some of the best minds from research and academia to develop our cutting-edge technology. • Claire Charlton is a metro Detroit freelance writer and Glenn Stevens is executive director of MICHauto.

There are a lot of bold predictions about the future of mobility. For Magna, we believe the future is, at least in part, electric and autonomous.”

SWAMY KOTAGIRI

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MAGNA INTERNATIONAL

Welcome to Mobility.

The future of mobility. Magna is making it possible through innovative thinking, cutting-edge technologies and strategic partnerships. Our Level 4 Autonomous Drive platform seamlessly integrates iCON Radar, solid state LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors and cameras into any vehicle. It’s another step towards a driverless future.

Welcome to Mobility.

magnamobility.com

12 Executive Summary

DETROITER

SPOTLIGHT ON ELECTRIFICATION

LIESL CLARK P R E S I D E N T, M I C H I G A N E N E R G Y I N N OVAT I O N B U S I N ES S CO U N C I L advantage by utilizing the state’s unique strengths in the automotive, battery, electrified powertrain, and advanced energy industries.

Michigan has an immense market opportunity to be a dominant player in the development and deployment of the automated, electrified and shared transportation ecosystem.”

We live in an era of rapid change. The explosion of big data enables technology advances in many industries including transportation and electricity. One of the most exciting areas is where these two sectors overlap. How we view this change will determine Michigan’s future – do we embrace the change as opportunity or fight it as disruption?

As mobility-as-a-service, shared rides, automated and connected transportation grows, it has become clear that the electrified powertrain will be the platform for the future of mobility. In October, cumulative sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in the United States reached 1 million.

By 2040, it is expected that 33 percent of the cars across the globe will be electric. By 2020, analysts project that there will be more than 50 models of PEVs available in the United States and up to 100 by 2022. Michigan’s automotive manufacturers have kept pace with these trends, with General Motors and Ford Motor Company recently announcing dozens of new electric models in addition to their already successful electric brands.

This convergence of the electricity and mobility sectors represents a disruptive inflection point that can give the state of Michigan an

As the birthplace of the car, Michigan’s automotive leaders are key players in this industry transition. Michigan-based automotive manufacturers are not only competing with other automakers to lead the global market, but also with innovators who are changing the traditional paradigm of what it means to be a transportation company.

Michigan is also the home of battery pack manufacturing, advanced battery vehicle research, engineering, development and integration, and a fully integrated, large-format cell manufacturing facility.

State of Michigan investments include advanced battery tax credits and publicprivate partnerships like the University of Michigan Energy Institute’s Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility, The American Center for Mobility, and PlanetM.

Michigan has already taken several key steps to encourage and enable our mobility future. Our state is one of just six that allow self-driving vehicles on public roads. Michigan’s electric utilities recently proposed plans to significantly expand electric vehicle charging equipment across the state. The Michigan Agency for Energy and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are executing plans to use money from the Volkswagen settlement to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electrify transportation including deployment of electric school buses.

We need to continue the momentum to ensure that Michigan remains a leader in the connected, automated, shared and electrified mobility future.

Securing Michigan’s place in the mobility future will require the participation of all stakeholders, including consumers, utilities, regulators, policymakers, automakers, the advanced energy industry, and the advocacy community. Michigan has an immense market opportunity to be a dominant player in the development and deployment of the automated, electrified and shared transportation ecosystem. • The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council is a business trade association representing companies in the state’s growing advanced energy sector.

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3,434 100,000 volunteer hours &

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14 Impact

DETROITER

WHAT’S DRIVING

ELECTRIC VEHICLE ROLLOUT?

By James M. Amend

Electrification is considered among the “game-changers” that will help drive General Motors’ future. The diverse lineup includes the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Cadillac CT6 PHEV, Buick LaCrosse hybrid and Opel Ampera-e. Photo courtesy of General Motors.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra says the automotive industry will witness more change in the next few years than it has in the last 50 years, and that change largely will be driven by electrification.

The electric vehicle has the potential to eliminate the harmful tailpipe emissions of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, as well as help make autonomous vehicles expected to reduce traffic fatalities and congestion a reality. This is because their big batteries can feed power to the myriad sensors and cameras the cars rely upon to operate safely.

Beyond the vehicle itself, electrification could fuel an entirely new transportation infrastructure creating new jobs and economic opportunities, while widespread adoption also could uncover new, more reliable forms of renewable energy, and move EVs to truly zero-emissions vehicles.

While there remains little doubt that this technology will have a significant impact on the industry and society moving forward, the Detroiter took a closer look at several factors that will determine just how quickly electrification will penetrate the market.

LEARNING TO WALK BEFORE WE RUN For all the promise of EVs and the billions of dollars automakers are funneling into their development, the segment currently accounts for less than 3 percent of global vehicle sales.

The lack of widespread adoption, in addition to setbacks or outright failures at some EV startups, has created warranted skepticism.

Technology costs also remain high. But with automakers committed to the technology, Brandon Mason, the Americas leader of PwC’s Autofacts group in Detroit, forecasts global EV production to rise to 6 million units annually by 2024.

“We anticipate an uptick driven mainly by the regulatory environment in China and Europe,” Mason said.

DETROITER

Impact 15

Everything was in its infancy 10 years ago, but Michigan was leading development of the electric vehicle in the U.S. And Michigan still leads.”

JIM SABER

PRESIDENT AND CEO, NEXTENERGY

U.S. RIDES SHOTGUN, AT LEAST INITIALLY

PLAYING THE LONG GAME IN THE U.S.

MICHIGAN’S POLE POSITION IN EV RACE

After lagging on emissions standards, China now employs light-duty carbon-dioxide emissions standards as stringent as Europe and often compared with those in California, a global clean-air pioneer. China also employs incentives for consumers to buy EVs, including granting those buyers precedence in its license plate registration process.

Regulatory levers and consumer incentives also are at play in the United States. President Trump has signaled a desire to roll back stringent fuel-economy standards written under the Obama Administration, but automakers such as General Motors Co. and Honda have recently pushed back with a national zeroemissions plan potentially putting 7 million EVs on America’s roads by 2030.

Michigan enjoys a lead in research and development of EV technology, dating back to Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration, when the governor’s office took advantage of President George W. Bush-era incentives to lure battery companies. As the nation teetered on the Great Recession, the seeds of Michigan’s battery industry were sowed with the arrival of LG Chem, A123 Systems, Dow Kokam (now Xalt Energy) and Johnson Controls.

PwC estimates the total Chinese automotive market to reach between 30 million and 40 million units by 2024 from about 25 million in 2017, so even a slight uptick in EV sales would be significant.

The regulatory environment also is driving EV adoption in Europe, where the Volkswagen diesel emissions-cheating scandal has led some countries to plan an outright ban of gasoline and diesel engines, beginning with city centers.

“You’re starting to see the end-game there,” Mason said.

The United States also is a market of millions of full-size pickups and SUVs, which makes electrification challenging due to their size. As such, EVs comprise just 1 percent of the 17 million vehicles sold annually.

PwC expects incremental gains as more nameplates enter the market but does not envision mass adoption of EVs until their total cost of ownership reaches parity with ICEs sometime around 2027.

Mid-Michigan, as well as the west and southeast portions of the state became ground zero for electrification, including applications in plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles.

“Everything was in its infancy 10 years ago, but Michigan was leading development of the electric vehicle in the U.S.,” said Jim Saber, president and CEO of NextEnergy, pointing to the 2010 release of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in.

“And Michigan still leads.” • James M. Amend is a senior editor at WardsAuto in Southfield.

Stacey Myers works on the assembly line at the General Motors Orion plant.Photo courtesy of General Motors Co.

Nissan added two new DC fast-charge stations in Novi and Howell, adding to the growing infrastructure of electric vehicle fast-chargers in the state. The stations are located at USA 2 GO convenience stores in the towns, along the I-96 expressway.

16 Impact

DETROITER

BLENDING RICH HERITAGE WITH A TRANSFORMATIONAL FUTURE

ROD ALBERTS E X ECU T I V E D I R EC TO R , N O RT H A M E R I C A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L AU TO S H OW

The 2019 NAIAS will provide an exciting glimpse of what’s to come in 2020 and beyond with a sampling of engaging hands-on activations for media and show visitors to experience. There will also be more than 750 vehicles on the show floor, plenty of conversation on an autonomous future, and an array of branddefining products and technologies.

Soon, the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will open the doors on its final January show, a Detroit event that has drawn an unparalleled international audience of media, key industry influencers and hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts every icycold winter for the past three decades.

The show is a reflection of the world’s automotive community and will continue to be as we embark on one of the most exciting times in the history of our industry and our show. The 2019 NAIAS will again celebrate the global automotive industry, showcasing the latest in mobility innovations, new product reveals and industryshaping announcements.

The upcoming show will also serve as a world stage for the industry transformation underway, a transformation that has encouraged automakers to seek out increasingly creative ways to debut vehicles and engage customers.

NAIAS is an economic engine for our region – drawing over three-quarters of a million people to the city with an estimated economic impact of $480 million.

That’s equivalent to holding nearly two NFL Super Bowls a year in Detroit.”

NAIAS has embraced this industry evolution with the announcement earlier this year of its move to June 2020. It’s a transformational move that will allow participating brands to deliver dynamic exhibits and experiential opportunities beyond the show’s four walls – all taking place in the summer sunshine in a revitalized and re-energized Detroit.

Building upon the success of the past two years, AutoMobili-D, a 150,000-square-foot mobility exposition, returns to the NAIAS featuring more than 218 brands, ranging from automakers to suppliers to tech startups. These game-changing companies will demonstrate and debut technologies on future mobility and transportation platforms, with a powerful list of mobility experts, innovators and C-suite executives participating in symposiums on the Cobo Atrium Stage.

Besides being a springboard for industry-shaping news and mobility innovation debuts, NAIAS touches the very heart of the Motor City, impacting Detroit and the region.

Again in 2019, Charity Preview will rally around the most vulnerable within our community, raising monies for a wide range of children’s charities.

Started in 1976 by a group of local Detroit automotive dealers, Charity Preview is the world’s largest annual single-night fundraiser, generating nearly $5.1 million in 2018 alone.

NAIAS is also an economic engine for our region – drawing over three-quarters of a million people to the city with an estimated economic impact of $480 million. That’s equivalent to holding nearly two NFL Super Bowls a year in Detroit.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate our final auto show in the month of January – a show whose significant and iconic reveals over the past 30 years have laid the foundation for our show into the future. A show where the industry excitement of the present merges with the rich history of the past and the promise of the future. • Rod Alberts is the executive director of the North American International Auto Show.

DETROITER

PRESS PREVIEW: January 14-15 AUTOMOBILI-D: January 14-17 INDUSTRY PREVIEW: January 16-17 CHARITY PREVIEW: January 18 PUBLIC SHOW: January 19-27

Impact 17

18 Impact

DETROITER

The skeptics are no longer asking whether it will happen or not, but ‘how quickly will it ramp up?’”

HEATHER KLISH

VICE PRESIDENT, OPER ATIONS, A XLETECH

Epic. Generational. Transformative. Not the kind of words temperate-minded engineers, technicians and business leaders traffic in lightly. Except lately, when they talk about the not-so-distant future of automotive technology, and the rapid, revolutionary transition to electric powertrains. Buoyed by eye-popping projections for growth and billions in investment, the future of electric transportation is happening now. Look at what some of the region’s standouts in electrification are working on.

FOLLOW LEADERS MICHIGAN’S EV

By Dawson Bell

MICHAEL BLY Vice President, Sales and Business Development, AAM

​ merican Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) has a A century-long history as a producer of drivetrains.

For most of it, they were powered by internal combustion engines. Times are changing. Bly has been working on EVs for 10 years, including on the team that launched General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt. “There have been lots of starts and stops,” Bly said. “But in the last three years we’ve seen market acceptance...and progress is measurable.”

In some regions, government incentives are driving explosive growth, he said. AAM provides the propulsion system for an AWD EV being produced in Poland, and a plug-in hybrid for another European automaker set to be introduced in 2020, Bly said. “We see (EVs) as not a niche, but a conversion point. We’re invested,” he said.

DETROITER

Impact 19

TED CANNIS

VINCE CARIOTI

MARY GUSTANSKI

Global Director, Electrification, Ford Motor Company

Director, E-Mobility North America, Phoenix Contact

Chief Technology Officer, Delphi Technologies

The iconic automaker is “all in” on EVs, Cannis said. Consider some of the numbers: Ford investment in electrics through 2022, $11 billion; 40 EV models, 18 of them fully-electric by 2022; a Mustang-inspired electric SUV with a 300mile range in 2020; $740 million electro-centric re-development in Detroit’s Corktown, including the reclamation of the historic Michigan Central Station. A lot of factors are at work in the rapid expansion of electrification, Cannis said.

“I’m a firm believer that we’re going to get to full electrification (of vehicles worldwide),” said Carioti. “It is accelerating now, with (Tesla’s) Elon Musk pulling the market in that direction...

China’s commitment. There is buy-in from the top at all the OEMs.”

​ he automotive industry is at an inflection point, T Gustanski said. According to Delphi’s forecasts, by 2030 as many as half of all vehicles manufactured globally will be powered, at least in part, by electricity.

Gustanski says Delphi is “an agnostic” about the eventual configuration.

Phoenix Contact E-Mobility is already a major supplier of charging inlets for EVs across North America, Europe and China. It is also heavily involved in developing and deploying technology for EV charging stations, with plans for high-power (500-amp/1,000-volt) superchargers — aimed at reducing range anxiety among EV drivers — to be released in 2019. “We need to build out the infrastructure,” Carioti said, “but there’s plenty of enthusiasm out there. It’s going to happen.”

“We don’t care. We do propulsion; as long as they need to move, they need Delphi,” she said. Among the company’s EV-related products are inverters (which convert DC battery power into AC for propulsion) and software engineering for controllers (which allow an EV to run like a vehicle instead of a light switch). Although a relatively small share of overall revenue today, Gustanski said Delphi has added more than $5 billion in lifetime revenue to its books just since 2011.

Fuelefficiency,climatechange,economics,charging options, consumer confidence all point to more EVs. “Our goal is to make great ones...with power, speed, handling and passenger space,” he said.

20 Impact

DETROITER

HEATHER KLISH

LISA STEVENSON

QIONG SUN

Vice President, Operations, AxleTech

Senior Vice President, Research, Development and Operations, XALT Energy

Vice President, Electrification, Lear Corporation

AxleTech provides drivetrains for brawny vehicles — buses, trucks, military vehicles, etc. “Heavy duty stuff that lasts forever,” Klish said. For the last century, that “stuff” was mostly mechanical. Not anymore, Klish said. The growth in demand for electrified drivetrains is off the charts.

Some of the strongest demand for EVs comes from the operators of big vehicles in big cities, i.e., urban transit and school systems. Hundreds of their buses around the United States and Canada run on lithium ion batteries developed by XALT Energy, said Stevenson. The incentives for more — fuel costs, emissions, public policy — are growing rapidly, she said.

A 101-year-old Fortune 500 company with 165,000 global employees and $20.5 billion in sales does a lot of different things. But in 2018, “meeting (vehicle manufacturers’) increasing demand for high-power electrical and electronic products...has been a major part of Lear’s strategy for growth,” said Sun.

“We have a new customer coming in the door every month,” she said. If anything, the market for electric in commercial, off-road and heavyduty production may be more explosive than for passenger vehicles, Klish said. “The skeptics are no longer asking whether it will happen or not, but ‘how quickly will it ramp up?’ (EVs) could be half of our revenue by 2020 or 2022.”

“They want to electrify,” Stevenson said. And XALT is “perfectly poised” to capitalize on that emerging market. The company also produces batteries for maritime use, electric grid storage and management systems, and in 2018 entered a four-year U.S. Department of Energy contract (in partnership with Ford Motor Company, General Motors Co. and FCA) to develop breakthrough 12-volt battery technology for EVs.

Lear is a major provider for vehicle charging, power conversion, battery management systems and high-power electric distribution for EVs. One of the company’s current efforts is the development of “revolutionary technology that provides drivers with worry-free, hands-free charging...by simply parking over a charge pad,” Sun said. A recentlycreated electrification business unit within Lear will “accelerate the speed of product development and business growth.”

DETROITER

Impact 21

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Keep your skilled workers.

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michigan.gov/uia

22 Impact

DETROITER

A MULTIFACETED

PATH TO ELECTRIFICATION

By James M. Amend

Michigan automakers continue to work toward more broadly employing electrification in their cars and trucks over the next decade to slash carbon dioxide emissions and unlock new forms of mobility.

The strategies they are taking vary as widely as the logos on their buildings.

“Give five engineers a problem and they will come up with five different solutions, the same goes for automakers and electrification,” said Kevin Riddall, senior manager of powertrain forecasting at LMC Automotive in Troy.

Chevrolet Bolt

NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY

The one common thread between FCA, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Co., Nissan and Toyota Motor Corp. is electrification as a way to meet a quickly evolving patchwork of clean air rules around the world.

“It is a very fluid time right now,” Riddall said. “Cities and countries want to get rid of the internal combustion engine. It is probably one of the most rapid periods of change in automotive history.”

It is difficult to determine whether there is a clear-cut leader in electrification, because automakers have released ambitious plans for the technology requiring a complex confluence of regulatory measures and consumer adoption to be realized. Many plans are global, too. Here is a breakdown of where the five automakers with Michigan ties stand in the race.

Chevrolet Bolt

GENERAL MOTORS CO. General Motors has laid out one of the industry’s most aggressive electrification plans, and it also holds the distinction of offering the first long-range, low-cost EV in the United States with the Chevrolet Bolt.

The Detroit automaker outlined a broader strategy last year, outlining a future product portfolio targeting zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion. It has adopted the strategy as company vision under Chairman and CEO Mary Barra and product development chief Mark Reuss.

The automaker plans 20 new all-electric vehicles by 2020. The rollout already has begun in China with smaller vehicles and includes three near-term EVs based on learnings from the Bolt. GM plans to use proprietary battery technology consisting of lower-cost materials and a flexible vehicle platform that can be used in a variety of applications from cars to crossovers and SUVs.

Nissan Leaf

GM’s long-term strategy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

also

includes

Nissan boasts more EV sales globally than any other automaker, rising to leadership on the back of its groundbreaking Nissan Leaf compact electric vehicle. Introduced in the United States and Japan in 2010, the Leaf is available in 51 markets. The Leaf ’s battery system gives it a range of 151 miles, and a 2019 version coming soon is expected to go even further.

Electrification is among the central pillars of the Japanese automaker’s “Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022” midterm corporate plan. Leveraging EV expertise from around the world, including its Farmington Hills research and development center, Nissan expects to sell 1 million zero-emissions cars by 2022.

Eight new electric vehicles will be brought to market by 2022. Models include a multibrand release in China with local partner Dongfeng and a new mini-EV for Japan.

A global crossover is coming based off the Nissan IMx concept car. The Infiniti luxury brand will receive electrification to its products beginning in 2021.

Nissan expects electrified vehicles will comprise 40 percent of company sales in Japan and Europe by 2022 and 50 percent by 2025. Electrified products will comprise between 20 percent and 30 percent of sales in the United States by 2025, while in China it should rise to between 35 percent and 40 percent. By 2025, 50 percent of Infinity sales globally will be electrified.

DETROITER Jeep Wrangler

Impact 23

FCA US LLC Although FCA was an early player in electrification with the Fiat 500e in 2013, the automaker’s late chairman and CEO, Sergio Marchionne, lamented it as a compliance car to meet California’s rigid state requirements.

At one point, he urged Americans not to buy it because the company lost thousands of dollars on each one it produced.

TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. Toyota is the unqualified leader in hybrid technology, dating back to the launch of the immensely popular Toyota Prius in 1997. It has increased the level of electrification to the Prius family in recent years, although the Japanese automaker is seen as focusing on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as a long-term solution.

The automaker announced plans last year to have sales of 5.5 million electrified vehicles by the 2030 timeframe, including 1 million zero-emissions vehicles. In addition, by around 2025, every model in the automaker’s namesake and Lexus luxury brand sold around the world will be available as a dedicated electric model or offer an electrified option.

Leveraging technical expertise from around the world, including its Toyota North America Research Center in Ann Arbor, Toyota plans worldwide availability of 10 EVs in the 2025 timeframe. It expects its plug-in and hybrid-electric portfolio to also grow over the period. Toyota will also expand availability of its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle technology to more passenger cars and extend it into commercial products.

Toyota Prius Prime

The automaker has released two major technologies from its Auburn Hills research and development center. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid employs plug-in technology that includes a large battery installed in the floor to give it 33 miles of all-electric propulsion before the engine takes over. The all-new Jeep Wrangler, as well as V-6 and V-8 models of the Ram 1500 full-size pickup, use a much smaller battery to take over some accessory functions and boost efficiency.

Ford Fusion Energi

The two technologies suggest FCA, at this point, plans to electrify the largest, least fuel-efficient vehicles first to make an impact on its fleetwide fuel efficiency, Riddall said.

FCA also plans to incorporate electrification in its top-selling Jeep models in the next five years.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY Ford dipped its toes into electrification most notably with the Ford Focus EV, which it began producing in 2011 but has a range capped to 115 miles. Sales of the car have been modest, even by EV standards.

Chrysler Pacifica

However, the Dearborn automaker plans to significantly advance its electrified portfolio in the coming years with an $11 billion investment. The research and development outlay will bring 40 hybrid and electric vehicles to market by 2022. It is expected 16 of them will be fully electric and the remainder plug-ins. Industry speculation is that Ford’s legendary V-8 powered products such as the Ford Mustang and Ford F-150 full-size pickup could be among the vehicles slated for electrification.

Ford also has been in discussions with German automaker Volkswagen over possible areas of collaboration and electrification could be a key element. In the wake of its diesel emissions scandal, VW plans to invest $40 billion by 2022 for 27 new electrified vehicles and the two automakers could share technology. •

James M. Amend is a senior editor at WardsAuto in Southfield.

24 Impact

DETROITER

SUPPLY AND (UNCERTAIN) DEMAND

By James M. Amend

Design renderings of Lear Corporation electrification technology.

DETROITER

For all the clean air promise of electrified vehicles, the long road to their mass deployment is full of potential twists and turns presenting risks to the automotive industry, especially suppliers tasked with bringing innovation to the segment and their OEM customers. For starters, research and development costs for electrification, whether it is for a mild-hybrid or fully electric, are significant.

That means suppliers are making big investments today for a market presently less than 4 percent of sales with no certainty consumers will want them in the future, or if other variables such as loosened federal regulations may hinder their rollout.

Impact 25

20%

Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor and economics at the Center for Automotive Research, discusses what the future may look like for the changing supply chain.

ON THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

ON THE FRAGMENTED EV SUPPLY CHAIN

Dziczek expects the internal combustion engine will remain the dominant propulsion system for years to come. That leaves suppliers to innovate along costly parallel paths to make the fossil-fuel engine more efficient while also laying the groundwork for an electrified future.

Automakers have signaled their intent to go petroleum free. Ford Motor Company, for example, plans to invest $11 billion in electrified vehicles over the next four years.

Major players historically, such as Continental and Bosch, are deeply invested in the technology but there are also a host of startups and companies new to automotive. A lot of the supply chain for EVs is located outside of North America. Electronics and controls, for example, are mostly sourced offshore and there is high degree of specialization. When an automaker makes its decision on EV range and battery chemistry, their field of possible suppliers narrows even further, Dziczek said.

ON INNOVATING TODAY WITH EYES ON TOMORROW Strategy decisions made today will lay the foundation for 2020 and beyond. It is a clear case of “innovate or die,” because the future supply base will be less about hardware and more about software and systems integration.

Automotive strategy consultant Paul Eichenberg, a former executive at Magna International, estimates as much as threequarters of the world’s top 100 suppliers could be in jeopardy without rethinking their electronics and software competencies.

ON COST CONTROL EV parts and components are not a commodity when compared to the pistons and connecting rods of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

The metrics for choosing a supplier, however, probably will not change greatly. It will be about cost, quality and delivery. •

James M. Amend is a senior editor at WardsAuto in Southfield.

OF AMERICANS SURVEYED SAID THEIR NEXT CAR PURCHASE WOULD LIKELY BE AN EV 5

11

$

BILLION

FORD MOTOR COMPANY’S PLANNED INVESTMENT IN EVS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

It will always be about cost, quality and delivery.”

KRISTIN DZICZEK

VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY, LABOR AND ECONOMICS, CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH

SOURCE: AxleTech’s electric independent suspension concept unveiled in 2018.

5. AAA Annual Survey

26 Impact

DETROITER

DETROIT TO TRAVERSE CITY

IN AN EV

With plans to increase the number of electric vehicles on Michigan’s roadways in the next five years, the Detroiter explored a hypothetical trip from Detroit to Traverse City in a Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf and Tesla 3 with the current infrastructure in place to support compatible charging. Overall, the results were mixed based on the vehicle model and number of charging stations.

NISSAN LEAF BEST ROUTE: 7 HOURS, 36 MINUTES 295 MILES DEPARTURE FROM DETROIT • 90 % CHARGE DESTINATION

ARRIVAL CHARGE DEPART DRIVE CHARGE DURATION CHARGE DISTANCE

HOWELL

58%

12 MIN.

77%

50 MILES

GRAND RAPIDS

10%

48 MIN.

89%

108 MILES

TRAVERSE CITY

10%

135 MILES

TRAVERSE CITY CHEVROLET BOLT BEST ROUTE: 4 HOURS, 2 MINUTES 258 MILES DEPARTURE FROM DETROIT • 90 % CHARGE DESTINATION

ARRIVAL CHARGE DEPART DRIVE CHARGE DURATION CHARGE DISTANCE

GRAND BLANC

65%

TRAVERSE CITY

10%

16 MIN.

83%

62 MILES 196 MILES

TESLA 3 BEST ROUTE: 5 HOURS, 57 MINUTES 257 MILES

DETROIT

DEPARTURE FROM DETROIT • 90 % CHARGE DESTINATION

ARRIVAL CHARGE DEPART DRIVE CHARGE DURATION CHARGE DISTANCE

BAY CITY

40%

TRAVERSE CITY

10

%

13 MIN.

70%

114 MILES 143 MILES

DETROITER

Impact 27

CREATING A SEAMLESS EV

USER EXPERIENCE

By Greg Tasker

Car buyers have more choices than ever when it comes to the selection of electric vehicles on the market, and sales of EVs continue to grow. EVs have become more stylish, less expensive and for green-minded consumers, they’re the perfect antidote to fossil fuel-burning vehicles. What’s not to like about a vehicle that creates zero emissions?

Despite positive changes in the market and the obvious environmental benefits, hurdles remain.

DTE Energy is hoping to change that. The Detroit-based utility sees a future in which EV owners can charge not only at home, but also at the workplace, as well as public parking garages and lots, commercial establishments and welltraveled streets and highways.

DTE Energy installed 24 EV charging stations in partnership with Delta Products. The charging stations are in the MGM Grand Detroit parking garage adjacent to DTE Energy headquarters.

A PILOT PROGRAM

DTE ENERGY WILL INVEST

13 MILLION

$

IN RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FLEET EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

500

$

DTE IS PLANNING REBATES FOR CUSTOMERS TO INSTALL CHARGING STATIONS

If you travel far away from home, you need the additional infrastructure and the additional network to support that.”

CONSUMER AWARENESS

This past summer, the utility unveiled its aptly named “Charging Forward” pilot program, the largest EV charging infrastructure pilot in the Midwest.

Customer education about the benefits of EVs is part of the effort. While many are aware of plugin vehicles, they were unfamiliar how chargers work, their location, and the costs involved.

“The core of most charging will still happen at home and at the workplace but these need to be complemented by other locations,” said Camilo Serna, vice president of corporate strategy for DTE Energy. “If you travel far away from home, you need the additional infrastructure and the additional network to support that.”

The benefits of EVs are many, according to DTE and environmental groups, including reducing barriers to EV adoptions, curtailing utility rates, and efficiently integrating the EV load within the current electric distribution system. A study commissioned by Charge Up Midwest, a partnership of environmental and clean energy organizations, showed expanding EV use could save Michigan billions over the next three decades.

The pilot program includes $13 million over three years for investment in residential, commercial and fleet EV charging infrastructure. Part of the program is focused on charging stations for workplace and multiunit dwellings, enabling residents of those buildings to have the same opportunities to charge as single-family homes. DTE also plans to offer $500 rebates to consumers to install charging stations.

“At least for the future, most of the charging will still happen at home,” Serna said. “It makes a lot of sense for these vehicles to charge when they’re idle or parked. The second place you need to charge is the workplace.”

Environmental groups are applauding DTE’s proposal, which is awaiting approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission, as smart policy.

“Michigan and the Motor City need to take bold action to put us on a path to a clean car future,” said Joe Halso, an associate attorney for the Sierra Club. “DTE’s proposal is a step in the right direction. We would like to see a program that maximizes the public health and electricity grid benefits that we know electric cars can deliver.” •

Greg Tasker is a metro Detroit freelance writer.

CAMILO SERNA

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPOR ATE STR ATEGY, DTE ENERGY

H E A R I T F RO M T H E E A R LY A D O P T E R S

By Dawson Bell

DETROITER

EV OWNERSHIP

28 Impact

As revolutions go, the transformation of the motor vehicle industry from internal combustion powertrains to electric (EV) has been a slow starter. For one thing, it started more than a century ago when nearly a quarter of all passenger vehicles produced by fledgling automakers ran on batteries. Then it collapsed until a convergence of forces (high gas prices, environmental concerns and government regulation) kicked off a resurgence in the 21st century.

Today, while EVs remain a niche market, sales are eight times what they were in 2011 and projected for explosive growth in the next decade. California is home, by a wide margin, to the highest concentration of EV users, but Michigan is among the top 10 states nationally.

The Detroiter talked to hybrid and fully electric early adopters. Their experience mirrors some of the fits and starts of the industry.

ANGELLA DURKIN

NATALIE JAKUB

Chief Operating Officer, NextEnergy

Executive Director, Green Living Science - Detroit

Vehicle:

Vehicle:

2018 Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid

2017 Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid

Backup vehicle:

Backup vehicle:

2019 Ford Flex, for long-distance trips

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

“This is my daily commute car, from “This is my first electric vehicle, and I home in northwest Detroit, to daycare in Indian Village and work in Midtown … about 22 miles round trip. I love it. I’ll never go back (to internal combustion).

It meets all my needs. I can recharge at home and at work. I probably go to the gas station five to six times a year. I’m a huge fan.”

love it. I don’t have any problems. The brakes are a little touchy and I’ve been told they may wear more quickly. I’ve had it a little over a year, so we’ll see what happens.

I’m curious about the life expectancy of the batteries. It’s great. I would choose electric all over again.”

DETROITER

Impact 29

RYAN KILEY

STEPHEN POLK

GEOFF YOUNG

Executive Director, Strategic Projects, CMS Energy

President and CEO, Highgate LLC

Sales Force Product Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Vehicle:

Vehicle:

2018 Tesla 3 full electric

2012 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid

Backup vehicle:

Backup vehicles:

2017 Toyota Sienna, for trips with the family

2016 Chevrolet Suburban; 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Vehicle:

2017 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid Backup vehicle:

2011 Audi Q5

“It’s my first EV of any kind. I use it as my “I’ve been very fortunate. I can use it “It’s low emissions, pretty green … made daily driver … to commute (from Canton to Jackson). I also use it on regional trips.

It has a range of 310 miles. It’s also fun to drive. It has instant torque. I can recharge at home … and at work. There needs to be more superchargers available. It’s definitely not my last EV.”

for my day-to-day commute, and to get downtown and back (to Oakland County) … and almost never refuel. The onboard computer says I’m averaging 409 miles per gallon. What I like the most is the marvelous styling. The car is one of the most gorgeous cars on the road. I really enjoy the electric experience and think it’s the future (of mobility).”

in Detroit. I like that. But it just makes good economic sense as well. And it has terrific performance … awesome torque.

It flies. With the weight from the batteries, it really performs well in snow. It’s fun to drive. The interior features are excellent.

I’m probably an EV guy for life.”

Action

30

DETROITER

A CALL TO ARMS: MICHIGAN EIBC, MICHAUTO RECOMMEND ACTION FOR EV FUTURE

The convergence of the energy and mobility sectors represents significant opportunities to merge our state’s engineering and automotive expertise with the power industry.”

GLENN STEVENS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHAUTO The Michigan EIBC released its report on electrification strategy for the state in fall 2018.

To better position the state for the coming electrification of the automotive industry, the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC), alongside MICHauto and more than 70 statewide industry stakeholder groups, recently released a new set of recommendations aimed at driving Michigan’s advanced mobility industry forward in a new report.

The report details recommendations for policymakers, organizations and businesses and is the culmination of five sessions that took place over the past year in which automotive industry leaders, utility companies, policymakers, regulators and others came together to discuss the future of Michigan’s advanced mobility industry and share ideas for success.

“As the advanced mobility state, the answer to ‘What’s going on in Michigan?’ needs to be that we’re creating the premier electric vehicle program in the nation,” said Michigan EIBC president Liesl Clark in a press release.

“Mobility is and will continue to be an essential part of Michigan’s economy, and the future of the industry, from shared rides, automated and connected mobility, will hinge on electrified vehicles.”

MICHIGAN MUST OWN ELECTRIFICATION The convenings were organized to inform industry leaders of the economic opportunities and benefits of an accelerated advanced mobility sector in Michigan. Discussions focused on utility pilot programs, customer education and awareness, fast-charging infrastructure, fleet electrification and rate design.

KEY REPORT TAKEAWAYS: 1

2

The consensus from the group is that automated, connected and shared vehicles will not become a reality on Michigan roads without widescale vehicle electrification.

“The convergence of the energy and mobility sectors represents significant opportunities to merge our state’s engineering and automotive expertise with the power industry,” said Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto.

“The report’s recommendations provide a roadmap for the future success of Michigan’s advanced mobility industry, and we are eager to get to work implementing these strategies.”

The full report is available at https://mieibc.org.

Utility companies should consider collaborating with schools to educate students and parents on EVs, potentially using science classes, tech classes, or electric bus fleets.

Build a community of businesses, non-governmental organizations, and government organizations to support the idea that Michigan is leading the mobility revolution with EVs. This could be done through storytelling and the Pure Michigan campaign.

3

Conduct more ride and drive events that include charging demos so that customers are able to experience the cars and charging infrastructure.

4

Public-private partnerships, rate design, and policy incentives for DC fastcharging infrastructure deployment will create a climate where EVs and advanced mobility can flourish in Michigan. •

DETROITER

Impact 31

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R085576

Action

32

DETROITER

CONNECTING TOMORROW’S

AUTOMOBILITY TALENT

By Megan Lasley

The 2018 MICHauto Summit showcased exciting career opportunities, innovative technologies, and the industry’s changing landscape to future automotive and mobility talent.

MICHauto, Michigan’s only statewide automotive cluster association, welcomed more than 150 students and 200 industry leaders with the opportunity to connect and explore the industry’s automobility future at The Beacon in the heart of downtown Detroit on Oct. 10. With a goal of changing perceptions about the industry, the Summit engaged both students and industry leaders through unique programming including TED-style talks, Detroit Moves tours, and interactive town hall sessions.

The Summit featured a dynamic lineup of diverse speakers who offered insider intel on many facets of the industry. Speakers included Toyota Motor North America’s Jeff Makarewicz, Inteva Products’ Lon

Offenbacher, Ford Smart Mobility’s Jessica Robinson, and Ford Motor Company’s Ken Washington, among others.

“The future of transportation is not just about cars, but also systems of infrastructure, urban planning, engaging cities and our government leaders,” Washington said during his keynote remarks to kick off the day.

The Summit also engaged students through an app sponsored by PlanetM and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The app offered students a unique way to gamify their Summit experience while encouraging networking with industry leaders.

Following the Summit, students received an up-close look at the region’s mobility innovation at Detroit Moves.

Megan Lasley is an integrated marketing specialist with the Detroit Regional Chamber.

@NicoleMGeez

S

U

M

M

I

T

@Ford Ken Washington “We own this, Detroit is the future of mobility” #MICHauto

DETROITER

Action

@AMFortunate

Nobody has pride for their city like a Detroiter. – Elliot Darvick, General Manager of @lyft #MICHauto

@forestdk

One way mobility brings us together: the last four speakers at #MICHauto were born in the USA, France and India respectively.

The future of transportation is not just about cars, but also systems of infrastructure, urban planning, engaging cities and our government leaders.”

KEN WASHINGTON

VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH AND ADVANCED ENGINEERING; CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY

33

34 Challenges

DETROITER

TH E ROA D TO

ZERO EMISSIONS

By Paul Vachon

Evolution of the automotive infrastructure — that web of facilities essential for keeping our cars running, is nothing new. Henry Ford’s first entry into mass production soon created the need for “filling stations,” a nationwide network of stops where fuel could be purchased.

The emergence of electric vehicles will demand a massive adjustment of that infrastructure to serve the next generation of mobility.

Getting there will require a reimagining and re-engineering of how we bring power to vehicles.

DEMAND

By 2030, Michigan is expected to have almost as many EVs as the entire U.S. has right now. This will require a much higer demand for charging stations and grid capacity.

750,000

FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES

VOLUME

333,000 HOMES3

INFRASTRUCTURE

760,000

FULLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON U.S. ROADS 1

17,500

CHARGING STATIONS 2

PROFITABILITY Uncertainty exists as to what business model will become dominant and how it will achieve profitability. Currently there are three possibilities:

43

VEHICLES PER PUBLIC STATION

INCOMPATIBILITY

1

private networks operated by automakers exclusively for their customers

2

public stations operated by utilities

3

third-party charging networks

A full charge at 20 kilowatts (the current standard), requires 2.5 hours. In addition, there are eight different plug/receptacle configurations and 14 independent charging networks. Both factors create considerable compatibility issues.

20 kW

100%

8

14

2.5 HOURS

PLUGS

NETWORKS

Challenges 35

DETROITER

6-8 kWh

TO RECHARGE A DISTANCE OF 25 MILES PER DAY,

DEMAND

roughly equal to the daily power needs of a small household

2.9 MILLION EVS ON U.S. ROADS

More than

11,000 GWh OF NEW ENERGY LOAD TO THE U.S. POWER GRID4

USAGE

UTILITIES

NEXT FIVE YEARS

Automakers are planning

PERCEPTION

56 models by 2022

but consumers expect EVs won’t be as common on the road for another 10 years 6

SATISFACTION 53%

82%

31%

FULLY ELECTRIC

INTERNAL COMBUSTION

PLUG-IN ELECTRIC

CONSUMERS WOULD CONSIDER BUYING AGAIN 7

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE COST

16,975

$

CHEVY CRUZE

$

37,495

CHEVY BOLT

The starting cost to consumers for a fully electric vehicle is nearly twice as much than internal combustion engine vehicles SOURCES: 1. hybridcars.com, 2. plugintothepresent.com, 3. Michigan Public Service Commission, 4. UtilityDrive.com, 5. FleetCarma.com, 6. Kelley Blue Book Strategic Study, 2016, 7. Cox Automotive

36 Membership

DETROITER

MEET DETROIT’S NEWEST LAWMAKERS Following the general election in November, the newest crop of Detroit legislators who are aligned with the Detroit Regional Chamber’s pro-business priorities are poised to take office on Jan. 1. As Detroit looks to continue the economic momentum it has enjoyed in recent years, these lawmakers have vowed to work across the aisle on key issues for businesses and residents including automotive insurance reform, education reform, and improving reliable transit options for all.

Detroit native Marshall Bullock is the incoming state senator for Michigan’s 4th District. Prior to being elected, Bullock served four years as a district manager for the Department of Neighborhoods under Mayor Mike Duggan.

While working for the administration, Bullock collaborated with residents and business owners to combat blight and build stronger neighborhoods in Detroit. Bullock has pledged to bring creative ideas and solutions with him when he heads to Lansing and cites automotive insurance reform as a top priority along with efforts to attract new residents and economic investment to the Detroit area.

Tyrone Carter is the incoming state representative for Michigan’s 6th District.

Carter is a Detroit native and Southwestern High School graduate, as well as a graduate of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Academy, Michigan Political Leadership Program, and the FBI National Academy. Since retiring from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in 2008, Carter has mentored young Detroiters and served as the president of the Original United Citizens of Southwest Detroit. Carter has said reforming automotive insurance is his top legislative priority.

Adam Hollier is the incoming state senator for Michigan’s 2nd District. Hollier received his undergraduate degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. After graduation, Hollier enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was commissioned as 1st lieutenant.

Hollier served as the chief of staff for state Sen. Buzz Johnson from 2009 to 2012 and was later appointed to Detroit Mayor Dave Bing’s administration, where he shepherded the creation of the Public Lighting Authority.

Hollier has pledged to bring high-quality education to Michigan and work with the business community to create jobs and get more residents working.

DETROITER

MARSHALL BULLOCK

S TAT E S E N ATO R • 4 T H D I S T R I C T

JOE TATE

S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E • 2 N D D I S T R I C T

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Joe Tate is the incoming state representative for Michigan’s 2nd District encompassing Detroit and Grosse Pointe. Tate supports bringing comprehensive and cost-effective public transportation to Detroit. After graduating from Michigan State University, Tate spent two years in the NFL before commissioning as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon his honorable discharge, Tate came back to Detroit, working with the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Continuing Detroit’s economic development and ensuring that more citizens have access to high-quality jobs are his top priorities.

Karen Whitsett is the incoming state representative for Michigan’s 9th District in Detroit. Whitsett has identified her top legislative priorities as automotive insurance reform and improving public education in urban communities. She has pledged to use her business background to help entrepreneurs and small businesses secure resources to develop the Detroit community. Prior to being elected, Whitsett ran a pest control business out of her home for 10 years and served in various roles as a community organizer and activist.

TYRONE CARTER

S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E • 6 T H D I S T R I C T

KAREN WHITSETT

S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E • 9 T H D I S T R I C T

Tenisha Yancey serves as state representative for Michigan’s 1st District encompassing portions of Detroit, Harper Woods and Grosse Pointe Woods. Yancey was first elected in a 2017 special election before being re-elected in 2018.

She is a strong proponent of K-12 education and supports increased funding to public schools. Yancey has also voiced support for infrastructure investment as a means of boosting Michigan’s businesses, automotive industry and economy. Prior to being elected, Yancey served as an assistant prosecutor in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

ADAM HOLLIER

S TAT E S E N ATO R • 2 N D D I S T R I C T

TENISHA YANCEY

S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E • 1 S T D I S T R I C T

38 Membership

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POINT OF VIEW MICHAEL WEBBER 4 5 TH D I S T R I C T

DO INCENTIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR NEW EV SALES MAKE SENSE GIVEN THE CURRENT MARKET?

WILL STATE INCENTIVES BOOST EV SALES?

Experts agree that advanced powertrain technology is the future. It’s not surprising to understand why, given that globally nearly half of all vehicle sales reside within countries that have policies incentivizing the commercialization and adoption of clean transportation technology.

It’s not just about electric passenger vehicles. Propane natural gas transportation technologies are also important for commercial vehicles and businesses looking to lower their fuel bills. Over the next three to five years the technology will be cost competitive, but until then, HB 6083-6084 will support an industry that is healthy for Michigan’s environment and economy.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO SECURE MICHIGAN’S ELECTRIFICATION FUTURE? The two main challenges are the upfront cost of the technology and infrastructure. If Michigan wants to maintain its leadership in the automotive industry, it is crucial that we continue to innovate in order to support the adoption of advanced powertrain vehicles and access to the fueling infrastructure they need. This will support clean energy jobs in an industry that is growing rapidly in Michigan and across the country.

WOULD YOU TRADE YOUR PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR AN ELECTRIC OR AUTONOMOUS CAR? My primary vehicle is currently a GMC Terrain. I would consider trading it in for an electric or autonomous car once our infrastructure improves across the state. Updates would need to be made to our existing infrastructure in order to meet increased demand for these vehicles.

Michael Webber is a Republican representing Michigan’s 45th District in the House of Representatives.

MALLORY MCMORROW 13 TH D I S T R I C T

DO INCENTIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR NEW EV SALES MAKE SENSE GIVEN THE CURRENT MARKET?

At the federal level, both Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters have come out in opposition of a measure that seeks to eliminate the incentive for purchase of an electric vehicle. I support their efforts wholeheartedly and believe we should go a step further at the state. Given the uncertainty around the federal tax credit, we need to consider tax credits at the state level to make electric vehicle ownership accessible to all Michiganders.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO SECURE MICHIGAN’S ELECTRIFICATION FUTURE? Michigan should lean in on developing the nation’s most robust network of charging stations so drivers can see an EV as their primary vehicle. One of the first bills I plan to introduce is a tax credit for small businesses who invest in and install shared-use electric charging stations. EV infrastructure is an area where government can get creative and take a more holistic view. Could roadside restaurants boost their visitors by providing a place to charge while customers have a meal? Could we boost tourism to state parks by installing charging stations to encourage ecofriendly road trips? This is an area where Michigan can and should be a leader. Let’s show the rest of the country that you can take a summer road trip from Detroit to Marquette as easily in an electric car as you can in one that’s gas-powered.

WOULD YOU TRADE YOUR PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR AN ELECTRIC OR AUTONOMOUS CAR? Way ahead of you. I drive a Chevy Bolt EV. I love it, but I’ve found firsthand that we could really use more charging stations. •

Mallory McMorrow is the Democratic senator-elect representing Michigan’s 13th District.

Membership 39

DETROITER

UP AND

MARK YOUR CALENDAR WITH THESE REGIONAL BUSINESS EVENTS

COMING JANUARY 29

FEBRUARY 28

APRIL 16

Sneak Peek: 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference

Detroit Policy Conference

Membership Reception

Bistro 82 401 S. Lafayette Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48067 5 to 7 p.m.

Free

Attendees will get a preview of the 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference including a brief overview of the ins and outs of the Conference, can’t miss programming and events, and the best ways to network on the island.

FEBRUARY 20 Membership Maximizer Otus Supply 345 E. 9 Mile Road Ferndale, MI 48220

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Free and open exclusively to Chamber members

This popular and longstanding event has been redesigned to provide members with greater insight into the inner workings of membership. In addition, focused networking will connect attendees with other members and key Chamber staff.

FEBRUARY 28, 2019 MotorCity Casino Hotel

MotorCity Casino Hotel 2901 Grand River Ave. Detroit, MI 48201

The Whiskey Factory 1000 Maple St. Detroit, MI 48207

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. $159 Chamber members; $235 Future members

5 to 7 p.m. $15 Chamber members only

What is your vision of Detroit in 2030? National thought leaders will share insights on urbanism and inclusive development. Local leaders from business, government and civic organizations will discuss removing barriers to economic prosperity.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members and make new connections from diverse industries at this members-only event.

MARCH 11

MAY 28-31

International Women’s Day Lunch

2019 Mackinac Policy Conference

Detroit Golf Club 17911 Hamilton Road Detroit, MI 48203

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island $2,100 Chamber members; $3,000 Future members

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $45 Chamber members; $65 Future members

A panel of leading women executives will speak to their personal experiences in leading with purpose and how to engage in inclusive practices to foster diversity of thought and encourage all employees to have a voice.

$159

Chamber members

$235

The Mackinac Policy Conference brings together business and government leaders to re-energize Michigan. Approximately 1,700 attendees will gather for the 2019 Conference, which will focus on uniting the state as “One Michigan” under the pillars of: prepare, grow and love.

Future members

REGISTER:

detroitchamber.com/dpc

40 Membership

DETROITER

IN THE

NEWS The Board of Directors of Adient PLC, a global leader in automotive seating, recently announced it has appointed Douglas DelGrosso president and CEO of the company.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in partnership with Wayne State University School of Medicine, recently launched the newly created Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement (OCHECE). The mission of the OCHECE is to eliminate cancer health disparities in Michigan by promoting community-engaged research and supporting fair access to the full continuum of cancer care for all populations.

Beaumont Health and hospital management company Universal Health Services is pleased to announce that it will build a $45 million hospital in Dearborn dedicated to mental health services.

Construction will begin in early 2019 on the 150-bed, free-standing hospital. The facility is expected to open in early to mid-2021.

Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that David Hempstead, member at the Detroit office, was recently inducted into the Wayne State University Law School Alumni Wall of Fame.

The award is the highest honor given by the Law School and recognizes either alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions made in their particular field of work or in the betterment of humanity, or to former faculty and staff who have had a significant impact on the Law School.

Starting Jan. 1, employers and members will have access to live, weekly well-being webinars and downloadable health resources, courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s new Virtual Well-Being program. The program provides members with a convenient way to improve their overall health and helps employers maintain a more physically and emotionally healthy workforce.

BorgWarner is one of the most desirable places to work in Michigan according to the results of the 2018 Detroit Free Press Top

GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT METRO DETROIT Workplaces program. To qualify for the Top Workplaces award, BorgWarner employees across Michigan took an anonymous 24-question survey that measured factors such as work environment, benefits, company leadership, career opportunities, communication and more.

Statewide, BorgWarner received an 80 percent employee engagement rate, which was 19 percent higher than the average response rate for all participating companies.

Buddy’s Pizza, home of the original Detroitstyle square pizza, recently opened its newest restaurant inside the Detroit Zoo, marking its 13th location in Michigan. The eatery will be open daily year-round. The 5,200-square-foot restaurant seats 163 guests and offers picturesque views of the Zoo’s historic Horace H. Rackham Memorial Fountain from the main dining room, an outdoor patio and a rooftop terrace.

Nearly 2,900 Chemical Bank employees volunteered their day off to make a difference to communities by working at 259 different nonprofits, schools, community-based agencies and parks this fall. The sixth annual Chemical Bank’s Cares Day is an outgrowth of the company’s hometown approach to banking and recognition that as a community bank it has a commitment to strengthening the communities in which it has a presence.

Michigan’s business leaders predict slower growth during the next six to 18 months, according to the latest quarterly survey of Business Leaders for Michigan members. While 95 percent of survey respondents expect their companies’ capital investment in Michigan to increase or at least remain the same during the next six months, a larger proportion (54 percent) expect it to remain the same than in previous quarters.

Nearly 40 percent of respondents expect to add jobs, while more than half (56 percent) expect employment levels within their companies to remain about the same.

Clayton & McKervey, an international certified public accounting and business advisory firm located in metro Detroit, is pleased to announce that shareholder Kevin Johns has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Judson Center, a community-based human services center with locations in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Michael Hammer has been elected as the firm’s next CEO effective Jan. 1, 2019. Hammer will succeed William Burgess, who has served as the firm’s CEO for the past nine years. Upon the conclusion of his term of office, Burgess will resume his practice in the areas of banking, finance and restructuring.

Delta Dental is pleased to announce that Goran Jurkovic will serve as president and CEO of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, replacing Laura Czelada, who retired in December.

Ford Motor Company is advancing its Corktown campus plans with the selection of its first architectural and construction partners that will work on restoring Michigan Central Station to its original grandeur. Quinn Evans Architects will lead the design work, while Christman and Brinker are teamed up in a joint venture to serve as construction manager for the Corktown transformation project. Construction will get underway before the end of this year, contingent on receiving all necessary government approvals.

It is expected to be complete in 2022.

The Henry Ford and the STEMIE Coalition recently announced they are joining forces to bring invention and entrepreneur education to students around the world through The Henry Ford’s unparalleled Archive of American Innovation and STEMIE’s global reach through its network of affiliate and partner organizations.

Starting immediately, the STEMIE Coalition – best known for its National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo, NICEE – will become part of The Henry Ford organization.

Henry Ford Health System, in partnership with Ford Smart Mobility LLC and Gleaners Community Food Bank, is piloting a project to address social barriers facing underserved patients in the tri-county area. The two-phase pilot will evaluate the effectiveness of providing transportation and food delivery for reducing readmissions of chronically ill patients to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In phase one, patients will be transported to and from their appointments through Ford’s GoRide non-emergency medical transportation service. In phase two, GoRide will provide these patients access to food from Gleaners. At the end of the six-month pilot,

DETROITER

Henry Ford will measure the impact of these two services on the patients’ readmission rate.

improvements to both the Emergency and Labor and Delivery departments.

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) and the city of Southfield have entered into a formal partnership to launch the Centrepolis Accelerator. Housed on the campus of LTU, the Centrepolis Accelerator will broaden and replace the small business and entrepreneurial support services provided by the LTU Collaboratory in recent years, leveraging the city’s focus on driving local and regional economic development through Southfield’s Centrepolis SmartZone.

The Centrepolis Accelerator’s mission is to accelerate the growth of small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs by providing access to key resources.

The University of Michigan is pleased to announce that Kimberly Dowdell, a faculty member at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, was recently inducted as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Her term officially starts Jan. 1, 2019.

Membership 41

Walsh College recently launched FastTrack, an accelerated degree program that lets students earn an associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Through the program, Walsh students can save $35,000 to $60,000 on their undergraduate degrees, compared to traditional four-year public and private institutions.

Lear Corporation, a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, is proud to announce that it has received three awards from J.D. Power’s Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study in recognition of producing the highest quality seats within the luxury car and SUV markets for 2018.

The Manufacturing Leadership Council recently honored Nexteer Automotive with the 2018 Engineering and Production Technology Leadership Award for its virtual process simulations and real-time monitoring technologies resulting in significant costsavings, optimized manufacturing processes, enhanced quality and improved product performance.

Plunkett Cooney – one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms – is pleased to announce that Josephine DeLorenzo has been appointed commissioner-at-large of the State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners. A co-leader of the firm’s Appellate Law Practice Group, DeLorenzo was recently appointed to the post by the Michigan Supreme Court.

Commissioners serve three-year terms commencing each year upon adjournment of the SBM annual meeting.

MSSP Alert has named Rehmann to the Top 100 MSSPs list for 2018. The list and research identify and honor the top 100 managed security services providers (MSSPs) that specialize in comprehensive, outsourced cybersecurity services.

A $4.8 million gift from the late Russell J. Ebeid was recently awarded to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, a member of five-hospital Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. This multimillion donation will be used to support future hospital plans for campus redevelopment, including

A Chain of One

Opening May 3rd for our 133rd season.

Come relax in a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch and enjoy views of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge. Special packages are available for a weekend getaway or your next family vacation.

1-800-33GRAND • g r a n d h o te l . c o m

42 Membership

DETROITER

ON THE

ROSTER

JOIN US IN WELCOMING THESE NEW MEMBERS TO THE CHAMBER. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT THEM FOR FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

PREMIER MEMBERSHIP Battery Solutions Sheryl Racey 5900 Brighton Pines Court Howell, MI 48843-6407 800.852.8127 www.batterysolutions.com

Lyft Elliot Darvick 185 Berry St., Suite 5000 San Francisco, CA 94107 415.689.4311 www.lyft.com

The circular economy or a “take, make, reuse” model will help to sustain our growing population. Battery Solutions believes that the continued pursuit of economic prosperity and quality of life for a growing global population can only be achieved through sustainable and mindful use of natural resources. Batteries are already an important part of our everyday lives and are being used in new applications and in growing numbers as consumers of technology expect higher performance and greater flexibility.

As a clean technology company, Battery Solutions understands that this will increase the use of valuable and rare materials and create the potential that some of the chemicals used, if handled improperly, can do harm to the environment. This is a problem that the company can help to solve.

Rideshare with Lyft. Lyft is your friend with a car, whenever you need one. Download the app and get a ride from a friendly driver within minutes.

HKS Architects PC Robert Piatek 235 East Main St., Suite 102C Northville, MI 48167 248.347.7050 www.hksinc.com

subsidiary of Microsoft.

HKS Architects’ comprehensive architectural services include conceptual and schematic design, design development and construction documentation, assisting with contractor bidding and/or negotiating, and construction contract administration. Architecture embodies all that the company touches. HKS is a combination of artists and tacticians, imagining, coordinating and creating some of the world’s most iconic places.

Microsoft Corp.

Donna Bank-Hoglen One Campus Martius 1092 Woodward Ave., Suite 500 Detroit, MI 48226-1913 248.827.2000 www.microsoft.com Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft refers to Microsoft Corp. and its affiliates, including Microsoft Mobile Oy, a

RAM Construction Services Katie Camaiani 13800 Eckles Road Livonia, MI 48150-1041 734.464.3800 www.ramservices.com Founded in 1918, RAM Construction Services has built a solid reputation based on knowledge, experience and reliability. Completing more than 2,500 projects per year, RAM Construction Services has grown into the largest Midwestern contractor specializing in restoration of aging structures, and skilled waterproofing. Over the years, RAM Construction Services has revitalized aging structures located in dozens of states across

the country. The projects range from belowgrade waterproofing of a 600,000-square-foot automotive assembly plant, to weatherproofing a 32-story office tower, to the delicate cleaning and restoration of stone and terracotta on a 100-year-old church.

Southern Current Steffanie Dohn 1519 King St. Charleston, SC 29405-9329 843.277.2090 www.southerncurrentllc.com Southern Current’s team includes NABCEP-certified solar energy professional and installers. The company is a leading developer in the residential, commercial and large-scale markets, with hundreds of systems currently providing power to customers across the Southeastern United States.

Southern Current’s integrated platform includes project development, engineering, construction, maintenance, finance, and asset management.

Its mission is to help create a more reliable, economical and sustainable energy future for the United States.

StaffWorks Group Inc. Jason Brann 24445 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 200 Southfield, MI 48075-2437 248.416.1090 www.staffworksgroup.com Whether you are searching for a short-term or long-term assignment, be it manufacturing, clerical, IT or professional, Staffworks can help you make the connection. Staffing specialists hold unrivaled experience sourcing talent in their fields and will work with you personally to ensure you hire only the best candidate for open positions.

DETROITER

Membership 43

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP Association of the United States Army (AUSA)-Arsenal of Democracy Chapter www.ausa.org

Ferlito Group www.ferlitogroup.com

Roland Berger LLC www.rolandberger.com

Intellibee Inc. www.intellibee.com

Somnio Global www.somnioglobal.com

Office Furniture Solutions www.ofsonline.com

The Detroit Club www.thedetroitclub.com

Creative Productions Inc. www.creativeprodinc.com

Omron Automation Americas www.omron247.com

Vitamin T - A Division of Aquent www.vitamintalent.com

Dry Ice Works www.DryIceWorks.com

Progressive Printing www.progressiveprint.com

Capital One Commercial Payment Solutions www.capitalone.com

FORWARD DETROIT ArcelorMittal

DISHER

Omron Automation Americas

CINETIC MODULAR BATTERY PACK ASSEMBLY — Volume increase, product flexibility, and shorter time to market — Modular production capability ranges from 300,000 to 2,000,000 battery modules per year — Decrease the required footprint to less than 65% — Offering solutions for Pouch, Prismatic and Cylindrical Cell Packs

automation.fivesgroup.com Fives Cinetic Corp.

23400 Halsted Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335 Tel.: +1 248 477 0800 - Email: fcc.info@fivesgroup.com

44 Membership

DETROITER

FROM THE ARCHIVES

“DETROIT’S GREATEST INDUSTRY” ADAPTING TO CHANGE

2 018 : W H E R E W E A R E T O D AY The automotive industry has undergone significant change since the introduction of the assembly line. While some of the same issues persist from decades past — more competition and excess capacity — the industry is again turning the corner to meet the needs of the future by shifting its focus on fewer models and electrified, autonomous and shared vehicle ownership.

PURE COMMITMENT

In business, connections are everything. And if you’re a tech or mobility start-up, the PlanetM Landing Zone can connect you to the people, resources and opportunities you need to succeed. Located in the heart of the automotive industry, the Landing Zone provides support from industry experts, curated networking events, subsidized and flexible co-working spaces and more. It’s all part of Michigan’s commitment to help bring global mobility and tech innovations to market. To learn more, visit PlanetM at the North American International Auto Show’s AutoMobili-D Exhibit (Hall E) or go to planetm.com

Driving Michigan’s Clean Energy Future

We’re replacing over 100 sedans in our fleet with electric vehicles and supporting the advancement of charging technology statewide – leading the way to a cleaner Michigan.

Learn more at ConsumersEnergy.com/pev