The US state of Michigan is synonymous with the auto industry. After the development of the first assembly-line car over a century ago, the state remains a key hub for car makers. Despite a number of challenges, Michigan hopes to remain a vital part of the industry for years to come. CGTN's Dan Williams shows us why.

This was originally the site of a factory where World War Two B-24 bombers were built by Henry Ford. Now though, the focus here is on the future of transportation. The American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, is a 200-hectare test track facility.

"We've just received this old pavement, the deterioration is in different stages along US12. And we will continue to allow this road to deteriorate and leverage this in our activity."

The track allows companies and organizations the chance to test autonomous vehicles. It includes a four kilometer highway loop.

MARK CHAPUT AMERICAN CENTER FOR MOBILITY "We are an enabling facility to allow the product development and validation of connected and automated vehicle technologies. We are one of the largest facilities in the world. We feel we offer a lot of the test environments that are not available in other locations."

DAN WILLIAMS YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN "This 700-foot long tunnel aims to challenge the issues arising from the loss of connectivity to satellite, cellular and GPS navigation. The bend in the tunnel also adds yet another element for testers."

Another autonomous vehicle testing facility, Mcity, is located nearby at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Planet M is a Michigan state government-run organization that aims to bring together mobility organizations, educational institutions, startups and government agencies.

SEUN PHILLIPS DIRECTOR OF PLANET M "Essentially, you can see us as the connector. So for any company that is around and focused on mobility, we look to make the proper connections and to coordinate our assets as best as possible. We are saving them time on who they have to connect with and essentially we are accelerating innovation."

Some autonomous innovation is already on the roads. May Mobility is a self-driving, six passenger electric vehicle that runs on a one-and-a-half kilometer long loop and has replaced diesel buses. For now, a driver remains in the front seat to take control when necessary. Michigan is already looking at ways to push its knowledge beyond state borders. Last year, a partnership with Ontario saw two cars drive a six-hour route, starting in Detroit, crossing into Canada before returning to Michigan.

MICHELE MUELLER MICHIGAN TRANSPORTATION DEPT. "We take the work that we are doing here in the connected and automated vehicle space and share that with folks in Canada to say how do we collaborate. Safety can't stop at the borders. Safety has to continue forward. So we do a lot of work with them around the regulations, the safety aspects, and really carry that through the border and working to carry people and freight more effectively and efficiently."

Michigan has long been a hub for the automotive industry and despite the challenge of technology, it hopes to continue on that road well into the future. Dan Williams, CGTN, Detroit.