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Inspiring the Next Generation of Mobility Leaders

Seventeen Michigan universities, hundreds of students to experience Detroit Auto Show programming during Industry Days, Jan. 15-16
Unique partnership between the Detroit Auto Show, State of Michigan and Engineering Society of Detroit
Designed to cultivate and retain talent solutions for the industry’s future

DETROIT (NOV. 20, 2024) – The Detroit Auto Show today announced the Future Leaders Forum, a new program at the 2025 show focused on cultivating the mobility industry’s next generation talent, by connecting 300 STEM-field university students and hundreds of Detroit-area high schoolers with auto industry experts and technology.

Presented by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the Future Leaders Forum will host students during Industry Days, Wednesday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Huntington Place in Detroit.

The Future Leaders Forum is part of the Detroit Auto Show’s ongoing emphasis on fostering industry, talent and mobility tech collaboration during Industry Days. The iconic Auto Show returns to January and runs from Jan. 10-20, 2025.

“The Detroit Auto Show has long been a hands-on classroom for students of all ages,” Detroit Auto Show Chairman Karl Zimmermann said. “We are immensely grateful to MEDC for presenting a program that not only promotes student interest in automotive and mobility careers, but, at the same time, creates talent solutions for our industry’s future.”

Working in partnership with The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) and MEDC’s Talent Solutions division, the Auto Show will bring in university students from accredited engineering schools across Michigan to the Future Leaders Forum on day one of Industry Days. The students will preview emerging technologies shaping the mobility space and have the opportunity to experience some of this technology firsthand on the show’s experiential track activations. Their visit to the Detroit Auto Show will kick off with a round of presentations from recent Michigan graduates now working in automotive and mobility careers.

“The MEDC Talent Solutions division is committed to creating stronger pathways to 21st-century careers that will help cultivate, attract and retain young talent while showcasing Michigan as a hub for a future-ready workforce essential to building a stronger economy,” said MEDC Executive Vice President, Chief of Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer Kerry Ebersole Singh.

"We’re excited about the continued partnership with ESD to nurture and develop the next generation of mobility professionals who can pursue opportunities in Michigan that offer higher-paying jobs and career advancement, while at the same time building a strong pipeline of future Michigan mobility leaders.”

ESD Executive Director Robert Magee says the MEDC’s Future Leaders Forum dovetails perfectly with the organization’s commitment to investing in future engineers, scientists and allied professionals.

“Our organization is committed to building a more robust pipeline of STEM professionals,” Magee said. “The Future Leaders Forum will encourage tomorrow’s leaders and work to inspire them that they, too, can someday be part of the transformative movement taking place in the mobility industry.”

Seventeen universities are sending students to the Future Leaders Forum, including students in The Michigander Scholars program, a partnership between MEDC and universities (Editor’s note: denoted with an asterisk) to cultivate and retain engineering students in Michigan’s thriving EV and mobility sectors:

Oakland University*
Kettering University*
Michigan Technological University*
U of Michigan-Dearborn*
U of Michigan-Flint*
U of Michigan-Ann Arbor*
Central Michigan University
Michigan State University*
Eastern Michigan University
University of Detroit, Mercy
Western Michigan University
Grand Valley State University
Wayne State University*
Lawrence Technological University
Saginaw Valley State University
Lake Superior State University
Ferris State University

A number of universities will have a presence in the “University Community” section of the AutoMobili-D (AMD) technology showcase, a display of mobility innovations from global companies and the startup community. There, university students will “show and tell” engineering-focused initiatives that took flight in the classroom.

Detroit-area high schools, including those with STEM and STEAM curricula, will be headed to the Future Leaders Forum during both Industry Days.

Industry Days also includes the Mobility Global Forum, a two-day symposium featuring tech innovators and industry disruptors in mobility, design, technology and talent sharing their insights before industry and media. Presentations will be made on the Huntington Place Atrium stage and the AutoMobili-D stage in the Grand Ballroom. A ticket is not required to attend the Mobility Global Forum.

Tickets to Industry Days, which include exclusive industry access hours, are available at detroitautoshow.com .

ABOUT THE DETROIT AUTO SHOW

The Detroit Auto Show is one of the most influential annual automotive events in the world and a showcase for emerging technologies. The iconic show features branddefining vehicles, product ride-and-drives and dynamic experiential activations. The event includes: Media Day, where media have access to the show floor prior to the public opening and automakers and suppliers debut new products and technologies; Industry Days, a hub for industry, talent and mobility tech of tomorrow collaboration;

Mobility Global Forum, a two-day symposium on mobility trends and new technologies; AutoMobili-D, an inside look at future mobility platforms; Future Leaders Forum, a catalyst for student education; Charity Preview, a signature fundraising gala for children’s charities; and the Public Show, a mobility celebration. For more information, visit detroitautoshow.com .

DATES FOR THE DETROIT AUTO SHOW: