Exploring the evolving landscape of mobility, Janine Gantt and Bernard Swicky discuss the transformation of Detroit from a traditional automotive hub to a broader mobility ecosystem. They emphasize the importance of adapting to new technologies, including drones and electrification, while highlighting the need for collaboration among various sectors. The episode features insights from Justine Johnson, Michigan's Chief Mobility Officer, who shares her vision for integrating clean transportation and innovative solutions to ensure Detroit remains a leader in the mobility revolution.
Justine Johnson joined Jeannine and Bernard at The Mobility Table to discuss the definition of mobility and the ways innovation is inspired, driven, and achieved within the Detroit region and the state of Michigan.
Justine is the Chief Mobility Officer at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), where she leads state-wide electrification efforts. She has more than 10 years of experience in external affairs, strategy, government, and community relations, having worked for organizations including Ford Motor Company, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the California Mobility Center.
"...especially in this advanced mobility ecosystem. And I think electrification EVs are a really important part of that. Like Michigan has really seen that as something that we need to focus in on..."
Electrification means using electricity instead of gas or diesel for vehicles. This includes electric cars and hybrids that use both electricity and fuel, helping to reduce pollution.
Electrification refers to the process of replacing technologies that use fossil fuels with those that use electricity. In the automotive context, it typically involves the development and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles, which are seen as crucial for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transportation.
"...to take the assets that we currently have, retool them, rethink about them, reposition them so that they're ready for this new emerging opportunity, especially in this advanced mobility ecosystem..."
The advanced mobility ecosystem is a network of new technologies and ideas that help improve how we get around. This includes electric cars, self-driving cars, and smart roads that work together to make travel easier and cleaner.
The advanced mobility ecosystem refers to the interconnected systems and technologies that enable modern transportation solutions, including electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and smart infrastructure. It encompasses various stakeholders, including manufacturers, tech companies, and government agencies working together to innovate in transportation.
"...I think electrification EVs are a really important part of that. Like Michigan has really seen that as something that we need to focus in on..."
EVs stands for electric vehicles, which are cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They are becoming more popular because they are better for the environment.
EVs, or electric vehicles, are cars that are powered entirely or partially by electricity. They are part of the growing trend towards sustainable transportation and are designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
"...ichigan, right? You think about the legacy of the Model T in 1909 and literally have a prototype that in 1..."
The Ford Model T is a very old car that was first made over a hundred years ago. It was important because it was one of the first cars that regular people could afford, changing how people traveled and worked. Even today, it is seen as a big deal in car history.
The Ford Model T, introduced in 1908, is often regarded as the first affordable automobile, revolutionizing transportation and manufacturing with its assembly line production. It made car ownership accessible to the average American, significantly impacting society and the economy. The Model T's legacy continues to influence automotive design and manufacturing practices today.
"...In 1909, you're seeing mass production of this vehicle."
Mass production means making a lot of the same product quickly and cheaply, like how cars were made on assembly lines. It helps make things affordable for more people.
Mass production refers to the manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly lines. This method significantly reduces costs and increases efficiency, making products more accessible to the public.
"...this nice, perfect ecosystem for innovation to thrive. And whether that's coming from the legacy automakers or suppliers..."
Legacy automakers are older car companies that have been making cars for a long time. They are now trying to make new types of cars, like electric ones, to keep up with changes in the market.
Legacy automakers refer to traditional car manufacturers that have been in the industry for many years and have established brands and production methods. These companies are often transitioning to new technologies, such as electric vehicles, to stay competitive.
"...they have an EV battery center. And so they're all focused on battery innovation. This is literally a space it is. I go into walls like that. I'm like, wow, this is not just a research lab. This is going to define how we are going to power vehicles of the future..."
EV battery innovation means making better batteries for electric cars. These improvements help cars go farther on a single charge and charge faster, making electric cars more appealing to drivers.
EV battery innovation refers to advancements in battery technology specifically designed for electric vehicles. This includes improvements in energy density, charging speed, and overall efficiency, which are crucial for the performance and adoption of electric vehicles.
"...I was just at the University of Michigan. They have an EV battery center. And so they're all focused on battery innovation..."
The University of Michigan is a well-known school that does a lot of research, especially in cars and technology. They help create new ideas for electric vehicles and batteries.
The University of Michigan is a prominent research university known for its engineering programs, particularly in automotive technology and electric vehicle research. It plays a significant role in developing new technologies for the automotive industry.
"... or pieces or components could be moved over the air? And how does that start to reduce truck traffic..."
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas. It's known for being able to go really far on a single charge and has a lot of cool tech features. This car is important because it shows how electric cars can be both luxurious and environmentally friendly.
The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan that has gained attention for its impressive range, performance, and advanced technology features. It represents a significant step forward in the electric vehicle market, competing with established brands like Tesla. The Lucid Air is notable for its focus on sustainability and innovation in the automotive industry.
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Hey everybody, welcome to the mobility table powered by Jim.
I am Janine Gantt. I am the Mobility Engagement Officer for the Global Epicenter of Mobility.
I'm here with my co-host, Bernard Swicky, Vice President of Mobility and Research
at GEM and the Detroit Regional Partnership. So we're excited about this table that we're
creating and it really is a table to talk about advanced mobility and this emerging ecosystem
that is in Detroit. And we want to make sure that this table that we're creating
is for everyone. We want everyone to be a part of this revolution that's happening. We want
folks to be able to see themselves, whether they are part of the workforce or the suppliers
or the innovators that are going to help move this whole industry forward. It's a really critical
and important piece of the economic driver for the Detroit region.
Yeah, I know, Janine, it's always been the heart of the economy in this region,
but it's changing, right? It's evolving. And so as automotive evolves to function in a broader
mobility ecosystem, we have these, you know, much more open cross flows to other mobility sectors,
be it aviation, maritime, avi-tall, drones, you know, those paths are there now.
It's air, land, sea. Air, land and sea. And they weren't there, you know, when we were making
traditional cars with engines and transmissions that were specifically for those purposes.
And so I feel, you know, for this particular episode of the mobility table, that definition
is changing not just in space, right? It's changing because the world it's describing
is changing, which means Detroit region must change. I mean, if we just had a great example
of that, you know, on our last episode, you know, but this, but it's this broader question of this
ecosystem needs to adapt. It's not just a given that you just keep doing the same thing, but
you're making a different product. Absolutely. It doesn't happen. You know, I think if we'd had
this mobility table, say, 50 years ago, the conversation would probably be a purely automotive
conversation, especially in Detroit, right? As we think about the manufacturers and the supply
and even innovations, or how do you make a car better? Yes. And I think 50 years ago,
it also would have been a much more presumptuous conversation where, you know, you sort of,
you know, that the Detroit region is the heart of automotive. We got this. No one else is close.
You know, and I think, you know, we would be resting on our laurels 50 years ago. Absolutely.
You know, but here we are now, 2026, you know, and so it's a very different world. The
resurgence of China, the new mobility sectors were able to serve new powertrain paradigms.
And yet these companies have to keep a foot in both worlds, right? And so, you know, my goodness,
can we be Detroit to aviation the way we were to automotive? You know, I can't answer that question
definitively, but we know some great people who are working on making it happen. Absolutely. And,
you know, and drones and, you know, all these other kind of cool technologies and things that
are happening, you know, in our region. In fact, you know, it's funny. I mean, my title is the
mobility engagement officer. And I think when I say that people are like, Yeah, what does that
mean exactly? You know, like, what is mobility? Exactly. Right. So I mean, if you look at a
definition, you can get all kinds of things. Is it related to, you know, helping people move
from one place to another? Is it about economic mobility? I mean, it's probably all of that
when you really think about it. So the idea of broadening this definition of what mobility is,
like in your mind, having been with the Center for Automotive Research for so many years prior
to coming here, how would you have defined mobility back in the day? Well, you know, back in the day,
I would say that it's cars, and then there's everything else. But that's not one, it was
never true. You know, and certainly working at GEM, and you see all these different entities
and the people and so on that obviously just, you know, doesn't work that way. You know,
but it's interesting when I started working at GEM, and I would meet someone new and say,
Global Ever Center of Mobility, that mobility would trigger a line of thinking in their head
along along the lines of, you know, wheelchair ramps and what we would call more accessibility.
Right? And we're talking, of course, that's included, right? Those are things that roll,
that help people get around and transport themselves and goods. You know, but we're
talking about so much more than that. And I feel like within our mobility ecosystem,
we understand. But does the general public understand when we go out there and we say
mobility, you know, what is it that goes on in someone's head? Yeah, and I think that's a big
part of just people adapting to and becoming comfortable with mobbies, you know, those kind
of mobilities. My mother, I love my mother, she's 83 years old. And she was at the lake and she said,
I saw this thing flying in the sky. I didn't know what it was. Well, I found out it was a drone,
right? And she was so excited about this, this thing called a drone. But I think initially
it's scarier because she really didn't know what it was. But that's the kind of technology that
we're starting to see in this mobility space. You know, we were talking about when the global
epicenter of mobility first started the initiative that we are part of, it was really about how do
we transition the automotive industry to this new advanced mobility ecosystem. But I think what
we've been seeing is, yes, that transition is happening. But at the same time, we're seeing
this just new players coming in, it's a brand new ecosystem that's not necessarily being developed
from this transitional thing happening. But it's kind of happening on its own at the same time as
the previous, the automotive industry is transitioning as well. Yeah, 100%. And so you have
you have the new companies that you mentioned, then there are the new to us companies.
For example, many years ago, I worked on a project for agricultural suppliers to begin
doing work in automotive. So that's one thing, one, it's a fantastic outcome of this mobility
transformation that those things are now happening. But I feel it's also a little bit of a wake-up call
for the Detroit region. Because if we do this right, if we build the right ecosystem,
all those other mobility sectors become potential markets, whether it's agricultural or you name
it. But if we do it wrong, we've got this huge bullseye on us because we are the volume leaders.
And all the companies that are making suspension parts for tractors or something interesting
for a boat or an airplane, they now have an avenue into the things Detroit does in automotive
that they can use just as much as we can use it to build the market for ourselves.
And I feel like that makes these conversations that much more important because it's not just
losing the opportunity. It's also facing a new competitor that previously would not have been
able to compete, but they are now because things just work in these new ways. And it's not even,
as you're saying, that I'm thinking to myself, it's not just in terms of competitors. It's not
just global competitors. As you're talking, I'm thinking, yeah, it's not just global competitors.
It's not just the folks in China or other markets. It's new players coming into the region,
that are lean and agile and small and innovative and they have this energy
to build something new and different. And as we think about how the legacy manufacturers transition,
if they don't, even a small to medium-sized suppliers or manufacturers, there's a pretty
big concern there. Absolutely. And frankly, the Detroit region and the state of Michigan,
I think, learned a powerful lesson with the real hit that we took to our tooling sector.
Right. And I think a lot of the same dynamics that hurt us there, I feel could come back to hunt us.
But frankly, I am happy to hear about the ways that we've learned from that,
in addition to so many other positive developments. But I feel like that is
a series of mistakes that we are not repeating now. Well, I think the state of Michigan has
been brilliant. I mean, the state of Michigan, I think, recognized that we need to do something to
continue to build our economy. And where are those opportunities to take the assets that we currently
have, retool them, rethink about them, reposition them so that they're ready for this new emerging
opportunity, especially in this advanced mobility ecosystem. And I think electrification EVs
are a really important part of that. Like Michigan has really seen that as
something that we need to focus in on. And I'm excited because I know we're going to be talking
to Justine Johnson in a little while. She's the Chief Mobility Officer for the Office of Future
Mobility and Electrification, OFME, as we like to call it. Lots of these acronyms that we promised
as a part of this mobility table that we would try to make sure that we are very careful with
making sure we explain everything. Because if you're not in the sector or the industry,
you don't necessarily understand all these things. But Justine is going to be brilliant
in talking about what the state of Michigan is doing, what some of the challenges are,
and what led her here to Detroit. So I'm really looking forward to being able to talk to her
because this is probably one of the most important sectors in Detroit since
Detroit built the middle class. How do we move to you to position Detroit so that people
can continue to prosper here? Yeah, absolutely. Based on previous research,
every job at an automotive assembly plant supports about 10 in the overall economy.
And so because the Michigan economy is so rooted in this work, it's fabulous on the way up
because these jobs start materializing. But it also tells you what's at stake if we don't do
our homework and there is a downturn, then for every job you lose, there are X number
that will sort of be coming off the line as you do. So managing this mobility transformation
is so critical for the people of the state. Well, if not just managing it, a part of managing it
is also making sure that people have an awareness about what's happening. And I think that's one
of the big things that we're, hopefully this mobility table will continue to do is to help
create some awareness about what's happening in Detroit. We don't want people to leave here.
We want people to see that there are opportunities for you right here in Detroit. Again,
as I said, whether you are a part of the workforce, whether you're creating workforce
by being an innovator and a startup company, there are lots of opportunities for you here in
Detroit. And I think as our friend said in another episode of the mobility table,
there's a certain vibe here, right? There's a certain vibe of energy here in Detroit. And
we're definitely seeing that across the advanced mobility ecosystem as well. So I'm excited to
bring on Justine. So let's just move on to having her come in and talk to us.
So excited to have our guests here with us, Justine Johnson and Justine. It's so great to see
you. Likewise, it's good to be seen and it's good to see both of you. Yes, even though you went to
Howard, I mean, Hampton University and I went to North Carolina A&T, which are historically Black
universities, which is a great thing. And we did play each other football and we probably did win.
But anyway, so I just have to say this because this is Tie Magazine's 100th climate of 2025,
where Justine was recognized. And it says here, Justine Johnson is Michigan's chief mobility
officer at the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, where she leads and oversees
state level efforts to accelerate clean transportation, such as EV and charging infrastructure,
as well as drone delivery. This includes building the country's first wireless EV
charging road that debuted in Detroit in 2023. Wow. What a recognition. We are so lucky to have you
here in the state of Michigan. I mean, you came from California. I did. What brought you here?
You know, I think my stars were always aligned to come to Michigan. And I say that because as
someone who is very passionate about mobility, someone who's very passionate about how we move,
how we are nomadic people who are always in search of moving for opportunities, whether that's for
jobs, whether that's for shelter. And you think about what state in the United States really
revolutionized the way in which people move. That's right. And it comes all the way back to
Michigan, right? You think about the legacy of the Model T in 1909 and literally have a prototype
that in 1908, there's a prototype. In 1909, you're seeing mass production of this vehicle.
And that has changed the way we've had our relationship between vehicles and infrastructure.
It's developed an infrastructure network like highway systems and roadways. It's also continued to
evolve into how we have street lights and traffic lights and traffic innovation, traffic management
innovation, excuse me. So I think these are all the parts and pieces that literally were going to
position me actually at the right time to be here, to land in the motor city.
Well, and just as things are transforming too, right? Because if you got here a few years ago,
we wouldn't have this incredible intersection of this automotive that's kind of our bread and butter.
It is now electrifying and automating at the same time. We're broadening that mobility definition.
In the Detroit region now, we have fantastic companies making everything from drones to
airplanes to electric boats. And so, and I feel like we are all very lucky to be working in this
industry at this particular time. It is more exciting. It's more special than if we had these
jobs 10 years earlier or maybe 10 years from now. So we've talked about this, so help clear
something up for us. In your mind, how do you define mobility? What is mobility to you?
Yeah, so mobility is, and we've been saying this as part of our office, really is anything that
utilizes clean energy to move people, to move goods and to move information across land,
across water and across air. So that is our definition as the Office of Future Mobility
and Electrification. I love it. And that's a new office, right? Why did Michigan think it was
necessary to like actually create an office? I think, again, going back to the legacy automotive
industry and knowing the important role it's played not only in the United States, but globally.
We wanted to be this one-stop shop for all things mobility, but we also wanted to create a space
for mobility innovation to thrive. And so having an office like that, we're really the connected
tissue. We are connecting the links between innovators who have these amazing ideas,
and sometimes the burden is typically whether that's regulation or just funding. How do we,
as an office, start to provide non-dilutive grant funding to companies who are saying,
I just have an idea. I just need to test it out. So the mandate of the office is really to help
emerging companies to design, build and commercialize and scale. And so with that being our mandate,
that is how we focus on how we connect innovators to many opportunities across the state.
So, Justine, you just touched on something that I found intriguing. Can you talk a little bit
about, are you seeing a shift at all in terms of where the innovation is coming from? You know,
whether it's the traditional automakers and suppliers and the work that they're doing,
or are we seeing more entrepreneurs, startups, you know, maybe a project at a college or
university that has somehow viability. Is there a switch in terms of where innovation is coming
from in the mobility sector? You know, I think that's an interesting question, and I'm probably
going to answer this in a way that's going to give you a little bit of a twist, right? I think
innovation typically will happen because there's a problem. And all of us here are innovators in
our own right. I'm sure there has been a thing where you've been frustrated and you're like,
if there was only that, that this could solve the problem. So you're seeing a lot of grassroots and
ground up innovators being birthed here. You're also seeing innovation happening in the R&D community,
working with academia and research. So you're seeing the research community and also how that's
starting to connect to industry. We do have, of course, the tier, the top, the top 100 automotive
suppliers here. So you have your tier one through three suppliers located right in the state of
Michigan. Of course, you have the big three that are located here. So that's an important role.
So we kind of have this nice, perfect ecosystem for innovation to thrive. And whether that's
coming from the legacy automakers or suppliers, mixing that in to the ingredient with someone
at the university level or research level who's working on something really creative and cool.
I was just at the University of Michigan. They have an EV battery center. And so they're all
focused on battery innovation. This is literally a space it is. I go into walls like that. I'm like,
wow, this is not just a research lab. This is going to define how we are going to power vehicles
of the future. And you're seeing industry come to the table who are saying, here's some of my problems.
Are you solving these things? And so it's these strategic collisions that are happening that's
really birthing the innovation. So it's coming up from all angles. It's coming at us in every
direction, which is great. Well, and I think that's what makes this time, as you said, so exciting
because there are so many opportunities to innovate. It's not like we're going to just tweak
this one thing. We're birthing brand new things that then will further be tweaked along the way,
like this entire industry that is really just getting kicked off that has a lifeline that will
last a long time here in our city, in our state, in our region. I'm curious, from your perspective,
you have an opportunity to see the ecosystem, not just in the region and the state, but actually,
frankly, globally, right? What are some of the things that excite you most in terms of what
you're seeing with things that are emerging? Yeah. So one of the great things, and I'm really
proud of, Governor Whitmer signed an executive directive in July of this year, which is really
focusing on a statewide approach for all things advanced air mobility. And it's something we
should be really proud of because, again, we were leaders as it relates to all the other states,
and many states are following suit and always say, when people copy what you're doing, it is a
form of flattery. So for other states that are looking to do that, really great. But we really
said we're going to focus on how we can connect our legacy automotive industry with the emerging
aviation space. And how do we think about this term of mobility in this dimension,
land, water, and air? And you're seeing all of these interesting use cases and applications
that are being developed. We also have something called an advanced air mobility activation grant.
And so this grant funding, which started last year, and this year also, there was another
round of funding that was associated with it. So but a little over $10 million has gone to
support charging infrastructure that's now at airports. So you have four regional airports
that now have charging infrastructure, which is huge, right? When you think about the role of
the future of aircraft. On top of that, you're seeing different types of use cases with rural
medical health delivery. So months in health and Traverse Connect, bringing these partners together
with Blue Flight to really think about how do you move lab samples from point A to point B?
And you think about our proximity to things before when we were planning for communities,
it was typically planning for the individual to go out to get a certain resource. Now that has
shifted where people want things to come to them. So our relationship to things and our distance
to things have changed, right? And so how do you shorten those distances, especially when we have
to acknowledge that rural communities, we're not talking about a 10 mile commute to a hospital,
this could be 50 miles, this could be more than that. And so when you think about how does the
role of telehealth and telemedicine play a part in getting critical resources to people,
it's a game changer. And so really proud to see some of those activations happening. Even in
Detroit, we have an advanced aerial innovation region, one of the unique things about Detroit.
And, you know, I've also traveled the world and every time I tell people where I live, they're
like, wait a minute, isn't Detroit like really close to an international word? I was like the
whole state of Michigan. But that's something that's unique to us, right? We have an international
border. Literally, you can see it. It's not even from our office windows in Detroit, we look at
Canada. Yeah, so we think about how do you start to think about cross border interactions with
drones? How do you think about moving goods about $235 million worth of goods move back and forth
across the bridge every single day? You think about that, like, how many of those those parts
or pieces or components could be moved over the air? And how does that start to reduce truck
traffic? How does that also start to reduce emissions? So there are there are huge implications
and huge opportunities that I think this particular industry serves in something I'm really excited
about. Absolutely. The Jetsons are here, like they're nearby. You know what I'm saying? Like,
they're not far, they're not far away at all. Yeah, I was having a conversation with someone about
there was some funding available for disaster recovery. And it really is about how do you
think about disaster recovery from a prevention perspective, and the role that drones might
play in that. So roads are blocked. And I can't get this to there because the roads are blocked,
right? And what role might drones be able to play to help keep the economy moving forward,
despite roads being closed? How do we keep care moving forward? We have these drones that can
carry things, you know, from here and there. You can also do proactive planning, right? It's not
even when you get to a disaster, because there's shocks and stresses when we talk about disasters.
Typically, a shock is something that immediately happens, and that kind of breaks systems apart.
A stress is something that's been happening for a long period of time, but you haven't really
given it enough attention. And so when the shock does happen, it collapses. And so you think about
that. What's the role of, you know, advanced air mobility or EV taller drones to start to do more
proactive planning? Where are the stressors in our infrastructure? Where are the cracks in the
fissures that we need to pay attention to? How much time do we have to pay attention to that? And
when or if something catastrophic happens, and unfortunately, you know, we always hope that
things don't happen, but natural disasters are inevitable. How do you, how do you rebound from
that? Are you going to just, you know, have people stuck? Are you able to say, you know, we're able
to do assessments, we're able to evacuate people, we're able to, you know, get people back to the
locations after, you know, if there's a natural disaster that happens, how do we get people back
into their homes? It's a full ecosystem. It's not just when the disaster happens.
Yeah. So I'm curious, you've got a very unique perspective of seeing things truly statewide,
right? And we've talked about our sort of home industry being automotive, and now we've got
these cool paths into these other mobility sectors. And I'm very curious, have you seen,
you know, that diversification take hold? Is our mobility sector, you know, less x percent
automotive and more y percent all these other mobility sectors as a result of this? Or are we
still in such early stages that we're not quite going to see those changes just yet?
I think one of the great things, and I think we should lean into this more, which is because we
have such a strong automotive sector, we are able to pivot and diversify very quickly. And we've
not something new to the state of Michigan. And if you don't know for any of the folks who are
watching, we talk about the arsenal of democracy when we literally transition from building cars
to building warfighting equipment, etc. We did it again. That wasn't the only time we did it again.
The height of COVID-19, people across the United States and the globe were struggling to find PPE
equipment. Ventilators had to be built. Hospitals were, I mean, running out of equipment to save
people's lives. And what sector was able to be nimble and to respond to that problem at the
drop of a dime? We know how to build things. It was the state of Michigan that showed up again.
The automotive sectors showed up again to transition from building cars to building PPE and
healthcare equipment. And when you think about that, how many other states in the United States are
able to do that? Manufacturing is in the DNA. It's in the bloodstream of Michiganders. People know
how to manufacture like no other. And when you have that skill set, when you have that generational
legacy of institutional knowledge, you can build anything. And so when we talk about
reindustrialization and reshoring, what other state is best for this opportunity than our
automotive sector? To transition to building the aircraft of the future? The parts and the
components of drones and EVTOLs? Same thing for the maritime space. We're the only player that
I think, and maybe I'm saying this from a, I'm sitting in the space now, but I don't see another
state that's going to be able to do it like we can and surround it by great lakes, right? Indeed.
So when we talk about manufacturing, though, it's not just about the building portion, right?
It's the expertise that goes into laying out that plant, laying out the tooling, understanding what
you need to do to turn this out in volume and effectively. So, you know, I feel like in a way
we kind of deserve props for that expertise as well. It's not just the building. It's everything
that happens before you ever throw that switch to get that thing moving. And, you know, if we can now
do something like that for electric boats, the way that we did it, or for drones, you know,
I feel like we still have this huge contribution we can give the world by, you know, we put the
world on wheels. You know, we didn't invent the car, but we invented how it reaches people
and actually democratized it. You know, how much can we now use that for democratizing aviation and
all those other sectors the same way? Yeah, we absolutely can. And we will. I don't doubt that.
I think this is why it's so important that we're educating our suppliers about the opportunities
to diversify, whether that's on the commercial side or defense-related applications, making sure
that, you know, people and the workforce have the skill set and the tools they need
to make those pivots is going to be really important. So, as we think about making things,
we have to think about how people are going to be retooled and reskilled, which is going to be
really important. But then we also think about our K through 12 population who are being educated
about the role of AI into the future of digital manufacturing. And so, I do think there's an
interesting conversation to be had about this space that we're in right now, right? Where we're
seeing, you know, we're in many ways transitioning from the industrial revolution to the informational
or information or intelligence revolution, right? And so, how do we strike that balance in a way
where it's seamless, but it doesn't leave people behind? And so, the goal for us at the end of
the day is to make sure that we're doing our part to educate people, but at the same time making
sure that people are ready for the opportunities, that we're not afraid of the opportunities. We
don't want to push opportunities that are literally ripe and ready to take advantage of.
You're talking our language, right? Because, I mean, that's what we're doing at the Global
Ebony Center Mobility. Like, everything that you've talked about, you know, that's the space that
we're in. And that's, you know, really trying to educate people and provide opportunities from
workforce to supply to research and development and testing and improving and like the whole
ecosystem. Because we do see this as that opportunity. I know we've got to wrap up. I
hate that we have to wrap up, because I really enjoy talking to you. You are brilliant, which is
why you are in the position that you're at and you receive the recognition that you do. But,
you know, where do you see Michigan? And it's this whole effort, you know, on electrification
and advanced mobility, say in the year 2030. I won't go too far, but like the year 2030.
I think the role of Michigan, especially in 2030, is going to, we're going to have some
huge headlines. I think the headlines that I'm seeing will be Michigan is a state that mass
produces parts and components to support EVTOL and as well as drones. I think we'll have probably
one of the most dynamic intelligent traffic management systems when we think about the role
of, you know, we were the first state to put lane markings down and that has been a national and
global trend. We see lane markings everywhere. I think we're going to do something very similar
and thinking about our digital airspace. So I think we'll have digital pathways that will look
like something that many states will want to replicate. I think we'll continue to attract
really smart and really innovative thinkers and doers who are eager to solve really pressing
problems. And we are climate-having. And I think people will start to flock to Michigan because
they want to be a part of the ecosystem. But unfortunately, as we see the changes that are
happening with our climate around the United States and the world, I think people will start to come
here because it is a safe space literally to live. But we have access to resources. So I think
we're going to be providing those critical access to resources and having dynamic ways to really
think about resources. I'd probably say, even with interoperability, I think when we think about
our infrastructure right now, there are still some challenges when it relates to even charging
infrastructure, right? Two different types of charging systems, depending on what type of
a system of interoperability we do have the first charging roadway. And you will likely see that
type of technology continue to expand across the state and allowing for a variety of different
users, whether you're someone who is operating a small form factor, like a scooter, to someone who
is driving a personal vehicle or a public transit bus. I think all of that will be a seamless charging
experience throughout. I think that's the headline that I'm seeing for 2030. And I also think like
the university partners will continue to band together to really push the next level of leaders
when it comes to new research around battery innovation. Like I said, I'm really excited about
some of the work that University of Michigan is leading with their EV Battery Center. I think
you will continue to see people fly to the state of Michigan because we will have
the most dynamic battery technology that are not dependent on rare earth minerals,
but actually transitioning to non-rare earth minerals as well. So these are some of the
headlines. I think there are many more. I'm very hopeful and I'm very optimistic. Fantastic. Thank
you so much for this. I also, it sounded to me like she has laid out the strategy. Like if folks
don't know, this is the pathway. This is the strategy to take that's going to get us to 2030.
These are the important things to look at and highlight. So thank you so much for being with
us and thank you all for joining us for the mobility table where we are really highlighting
the amazing things that are happening in the Detroit region's advanced mobility ecosystem.
And we'll see you on our next episode. See you next time.
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