The state of Michigan is working to create a mobility ecosystem that stretches into nearly every corner of the business and government world, and in every area of the state.
“We have a number of things to be really proud of, especially when we talk about our ecosystem,” the state’s chief mobility officer Justine Johnson told Newsweek.
She cites the state’s advocacy for the adoption of electric vehicles by Michiganders through charging infrastructure investment as one of the things she is most proud of. “We have deployed a little over 3,800 publicly available EV charging stations throughout the state. I think it’s something that’s really important because that’s our way of really helping to accelerate adoption for electric vehicles,” she said.
In August, Michigan State University researchers announced that Michigan needs to invest approximately $998 million in new EV charging across the state to install 66,602 new chargers, to address the future demand for fill ups. The state’s Michigan Future Mobility Plan has set the goal of having 100,000 installed in the state by 2030.
Michigan’s efforts go even further, Johnson explained, saying, “We have big goals around carbon neutrality. The transportation sector contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and so we’re doing our part just to making sure that the infrastructure is there, not only on the ground side, but also on the maritime side too. We have a number of electric vessel charging stations located in northwest Michigan. We have added a number of manufacturing jobs, and have a number of credentialed workers who are in the mobility ecosystem together… The State is really attracting and retaining high-growth companies, on land, water and [in the] air.”
To achieve those goals, spur innovation and attract investment in the state, Michigan’s legislature delivered bipartisan support for five bills that were signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to set up the Michigan Innovation Fund and an R&D Tax Credit. “This is really to support the formation of growth and the growth of early stage companies,” Johnson said.
Developing technology surrounding air mobility is also a priority for the state. It’s expected to be a $57 billion industry by 2030, Johnson said. “We want to make sure that Michigan is at the table, especially when you hear those numbers.”
The U.S. federal government is in the process of updating guidance and regulation surrounding emerging air mobility technologies. Mobility sector guidance and the nation’s business environment intersect at the point of tariff policy.
Manufacturing supply chain concerns related to tariffs puts Michigan in a uniquely competitive position. “We acknowledge that there is a lot of language and guidance right now coming from the federal government for manufactured items and products to be made in the United States,” Johnson said. “Michigan’s manufacturing heritage makes us uniquely positioned for that.”
She continued: “Our history in mobility innovation plus our robust supply chain makes this kind of the perfect equation for us, especially on topics like advanced Air Mobility. We want to make sure that people can manufacture drones, people can manufacture future aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff and landing [machines].”
But, it’s not just making the state investment-ready that matter. Johnson explained that it’s also about having the infrastructure in place to be deployment-ready for emerging mobility solutions saying, “A big part of this is making sure that we’re scaling the infrastructure. And, the infrastructure is important because we think about drone ports and as well as vertiports, these are places where these types of aircraft will need to take off and land.”
Those done ports and vertiports are next-stage mobility bases that serve a variety of businesses and pleasure pursuits. The state has put into place certain technologies that allow for connected commercial corridors and they are working through the best ways for public safety departments to use the air mobility technology.
“We know that in case of wildfire, natural disaster, any type of critical issue, we want to make sure that, how can we integrate this technology with our first responders so that they’re assessing the situation and getting enough information to make informed decisions and save lives,” Johnson said.
Johnson sees armed forces veterans as playing a significant role in the future of Michigan’s mobility ecosystem. She explained, “We’re working very close with our defense partners, with the [Michigan] Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. [We’re also working on] labor and economic opportunities, on all things workforce and really thinking about how we continue to develop and scale our workforce to be tooled and as well as re-skilled, in some cases.”
While the future of mobility may be growing increasingly complex and interconnected, Johnson is optimistic. “Our ecosystem is very robust, and it’s bright, and I think we’re doing some phenomenal things,” she said.
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