LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Whitmer has signed two executive directives to help strengthen Michigan’s auto industry as of Tuesday.
The two directives are as follows:
- Executive Directive 2020-1 – directs the creation of the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and the designation of a Chief Mobility Officer to head the office;
- Executive Order 2020-2 – creates the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification.
“In the state that put the world on wheels and that’s home to some of the most innovative, driven workers on the planet, we must continue to work to solidify Michigan as a global leader in mobility,” Whitmer said. “That’s why we’re harnessing our resources in state government to ensure Michigan remains the go-to state to build, test, and deploy the cars of the future. I’m excited to work with leaders in the Office of Future Mobility to build on the progress we’ve seen in the last year and cement our status as a hub for innovation and opportunity in the automotive sector.”
Whitmer made the announcement of the directives during the 2020 MICHAuto Summit in Detroit.
The move has drawn praise from the auto industry.
“Ford commends Governor Whitmer on prioritizing and streamlining the state’s mobility efforts, which will help to secure Michigan as a leader in this new era of transportation,” said John Lawler, CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC and vice president of Ford’s Mobility Partnerships. “We appreciate Governor Whitmer’s recognition that the freedom of movement unlocks socioeconomic benefits and drives human progress forward. We will continue to be a collaborative partner in making transportation accessible to all.”
General Motors also weighed in with praise of their own.
“General Motors applauds Governor Whitmer’s measures to propel the State’s mobility leadership forward,” said Brian O’Connell, General Motors regional director, state government relations. “Michigan will continue to play a key role in our commitment to advance the future of mobility as evidenced in our recent announcements to create the first all-electric GM assembly and manufacture a variety of electric vehicles, including the self-driving Origin, in our backyard. Leveraging our capabilities and Research & Development leadership, we look forward to working with the State to create an all-electric future.”
Officials say that these directives will help expand on the efforts that have already been made, such as the Electric Vehicle Charger Placement Optimization project created by the Michigan Energy Office.
Whitmer’s office say that over 11,000 automotive jobs have been created in the last year.
