Pictured: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her annual Auto Show keynote address, her last as governor, covering industry successes and challenges of the past year and what Michigan and the automotive and mobility industry need to do to maintain their global leadership. 

She shared insight on how fluctuating trade policies have impacted the state, that innovation — not individualism — is Michigan’s strategic advantage, and that a stronger talent pipeline is a non-negotiable strategy for the state’s advancement.

From left to right: Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Pete Buttigieg

In a conversation with Kevin M. Guskiewicz, President of Michigan State University, a MichAuto investor, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg shared that innovation is not a competition between government and industry; it is an intersection linking industry, academia, and government.  

He also explained how transformative ideas in transportation rarely begin with top‑down directives; they emerge from creative, bottom‑up collaborations guided by open‑minded local leaders and supported by academic expertise. 

From left to right: Paul Corbett, Bill Kordenbrock, Mike Compagnoni, Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Brian Shoaf, Consul General of Japan Hajime Kishimori, Jordan Choby, Drew Coleman, Curt McAllister, Jerry Ruskowski

From left to right: Glenn Stevens Jr., Kevin M. Guskiewicz

MichAuto’s Director of Government and Community Affairs, Paul Corbett, led local legislators and members of the MichAuto Advocacy Committee on a tour of the Auto Show to underscore Michigan’s leadership in automotive innovation and next‑generation mobility.

To conclude day one of the 2026 Detroit Auto Show’s Media and Industry Days, MichAuto’s Executive Director and the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer Glenn Stevens Jr. and Michigan State University’s (MSU) Kevin M. Guskiewicz had a fireside chat discussing what needs to be done to prepare students for the future and to ensure the state has the proper education to attract students.

MSU is committed to preparing students for the jobs of the future and is excited to launch its new Engineering and Digital Innovation Center later this year.

From left to right: Steve Tengler, Kevin Douglas, Tom Kelly

In a panel conversation, Automation Alley’s Tom Kelly and MichAuto investor Nexteer Automotive’s Kevin Douglas underscored that AI’s biggest impact comes from pairing strong data and IP‑ownership strategies with a skilled talent pipeline, positioning technology as a force multiplier rather than a cost‑cutting tool.

Manufacturers are already using AI to predict equipment issues, automate data capture, and enhance plant efficiency while keeping humans focused on higher‑value innovation. 

Steve Tengler of Envorso moderated the conversation.

As the industry works to meet today’s consumer expectations while accelerating toward a next‑generation mobility future, the Detroit Auto Show brings these pressures and possibilities to life on the global stage.

MichAuto’s Michigan is Automobility brochure reinforces why “There is only one Motor City,” highlighting Michigan as the #1 automotive and mobility state and MichAuto’s role as the trusted source for automotive and mobility data and insights.