US state Michigan is synonymous with the auto industry. Following the development of the first assembly car over a century ago, the state remains a key hub for car manufacturers. Despite facing a number of challenges, Michigan hopes to remain a vital part of the industry for years to come.  

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

The track allows companies and organizations the chance to test autonomous vehicles and includes a four-kilometer highway loop. Mark Chaput, the vice president of Construction and Infrastructure Development for ACM, said: “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.”

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. 

Sean Phillips is the company's director. He said: "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 innovations are already on the roads. May Mobility is a self-driving, six-passenger electric vehicle that runs on a 1.5-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 driving along a six-hour route, starting in Detroit and crossing into Canada before returning to Michigan. 

“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,” says Michele Mueller from the Michigan Department of Transport. 

"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 [is] working to carry people and freight more effectively and efficiently,” he added.

Michigan has long been a hub for automotive industry and it hopes to continue on that road well into the future despite technology challenges.