MichAuto is the only association in Michigan dedicated to the promotion, retention and growth of the automotive and mobility industry. Recently, MichAuto’s 2024 “Economic Contribution Study of Michigan’s Mobility Industry” report was released which analyzes Michigan’s mobility industry and its growing impact on the state’s economy.
Judd Herzer, director of Michigan State University Mobility, answers questions about his perspective on the report and how it connects to MSU Mobility research.
How does MSU Mobility’s research align with the MichAuto report?
What stuck out most to me was how the mobility sector not only remains Michigan’s most important industry but is growing as supply chains onshore and the sector become more technologically advanced. For me, when I look at the report, it validates that MSU is on the right track with a steadfast mobility focus that can directly contribute to the powerful role the mobility sector plays in our state.
As Michigan sets the economic stage for growth and a shift toward electrification and automation, how does MSU Mobility play a role?
As the leading research institution providing talent into Michigan’s mobility sector, we have many faculty members, researchers and students across multiple MSU colleges developing new, mobility-oriented technologies and tackling some of the most pressing challenges related to electrification and automation. We’re researching everything from new battery chemistries, autonomous vehicle sensors, vehicle communication systems, smart infrastructure, uncrewed aircraft systems and transportation management, to next-gen EV charging, optimal charger placements and much more. And we’re researching the impact these will have from the engineering, societal, legal, educational and business perspectives.
What was the most surprising finding in the report?
The rapid growth of an industry that’s been around 130-plus years is astonishing! That our mobility sector contributes $348 billion in gross economic output, 27% of Michigan’s gross economic output, and supports 1.2 million jobs is huge! It was also nice to see this study look at mobility more holistically, beyond just automotive, and better illustrate how people and goods get about and how transportation issues impact our daily lives. That methodology ties in well with the approach MSU Mobility is taking with solving mobility problems through a multidisciplined, cross-college lens.
How do you think MSU has impacted this report?
From our recent news about being designated an official State of Michigan mobility test asset, to our longstanding passion for supporting manufacturers in their efforts to retool facilities and reskill workers to make tomorrow’s products, MSU Mobility has been steadily helping Michigan’s mobility industry adapt, grow and understand how best to use and be prepared for new technologies. But most importantly, we’re proud of the fact that 60% of Spartan engineering graduates stay in Michigan after graduation, making us number one in talent production for Michigan’s mobility sector.
Why are studies like this important?
Studies like this provide concrete data that gives a good baseline for how much of our state is dedicated to mobility and the continuous need to focus our attention on growing our talent pool to support Michigan’s workforce. It also makes a strong case for investment dollars to continue to make their way here with researchers, like those at MSU, positioned well to support R&D efforts, partner with mobility companies and develop solutions to current and future problems facing the sector.