The Shyft Group has announced the opening of a new dedicated research and development center in Plymouth, Michigan. The 40,000 sq. ft. facility will be home to Shyft Innovations, The Shyft Group’s dedicated mobility research and development team. The building will be used for product development, prototyping, and design, with a focus on a range of future products and leading technologies.

“Opening a dedicated R&D facility reflects our commitment to constant innovation,” said Daryl Adams, president of The Shyft Group. “Our strategic EV chassis development initiative, announced in June, is just the first in a number of future developments from Shyft Innovations that will drive advancements in both mobility and alternative propulsion.”

The facility officially opened in September of 2021.

Ann Arbor-based May Mobility and SoftBank have confirmed a partnership to help accelerate the introduction of autonomous driving in Japan. The agreement will see the pair jointly deliver a service that will use Softbank’s 5G network to leverage its expertise in vehicle communications and May Mobility’s experience in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology.

Recently closing on a $111 million funding round, May Mobility is also expanding its partnership with another Japanese company, Toyota. The companies will jointly develop an autonomous vehicle fleet of commercial Sienna minivans. The first of these have already been launched for testing and demonstrations in Ann Arbor.

“This partnership … is a golden opportunity for May Mobility to leverage next-generation mobility infrastructure to increase the adoption of MaaS,” said Edwin Olson, CEO of May Mobility, Inc. “We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience in expanding autonomous driving in Japan.”

Blueflite has been awarded a Michigan Mobility Funding Platform Test Site Deployment grant from the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The company, which develops unmanned aerial systems for the logistics industry, will be testing its latest drone design during 2022 with support from the Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium.

“What we are building here is cutting-edge robotics technology to enable the transport of goods via drone. It combines advanced AI software, novel materials, and lightweight design,” says James McClearen, CTO of Blueflite. “Blueflite’s technology went through a several year development cycle and is increasingly seeing commercialization.”

Helbiz has chosen Flint as one of three new U.S. cities where it will expand its micro-mobility operations. In Flint, the company plans to re-launch and expand its e-scooter and e-bike fleet, partnering with Kuhmute, a multimodal charging network for micro-mobility. Additionally, Helbiz’s vehicles will be available at the University of Michigan-Flint campus, offering students and faculty safe, sustainable transportation options.

“We’re thrilled to launch our newest electric vehicles and continue expanding our presence across the U.S.,” said Salvatore Palella, Helbiz CEO. “At Helbiz, we pride ourselves on being the best partners to local governments, which means meeting each city’s needs while prioritizing safety and accessibility. With each new market, we build on our goal of changing how the world moves by getting people out of their cars and onto electric micro-mobility vehicles.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is now providing free shuttle service via The Detroit Bus Company’s hand-painted, biodiesel-powered buses. Parking for riders is available in the Paddock parking area, located between the park entrance and the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Riders can hop on one of two shuttle buses that will make a continuous loop between the parking area, designated swim beach, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle Aquarium, and Kids Row. The shuttles run noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The more than five million park visitors in 2021 presented an opportunity to establish a better transit solution. Belle Isle Park Manager Karis Floyd believes these new buses available to transport visitors will help alleviate traffic jams.

“The goal is to reduce heavy traffic congestion that can cause visitor headaches and island closures due to parking capacity limits,” Floyd said in a statement.

The North American International Detroit Auto Show (a.k.a. Detroit Auto Show) has announced applications are now open for technology startups to exhibit at the upcoming show this fall. The Startup Exhibition will be located within AutoMobili-D, the technology showcase presented by the MEDC, on the main show floor during Media and Industry Tech Days, Sept. 14 – 15, 2022.

AutoMobili-D features 80+ technology companies including the latest vehicle innovations from Tier 1 suppliers, universities, and the mobility startup community. Startups must meet specific criteria in order to be selected to participate in this reduced-fee exhibit area. Criteria includes revenue of less than $10M, an employee roster under 100, investment thresholds, and length in business.

OFME and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) have partnered to launch the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) aimed at providing vital grant funding to mobility and electrification companies of all sizes looking to deploy their technology in Michigan. Grants are focused on catalyzing and scaling mobility solutions across three key areas of focus:

• Sustainable Futures: Improve environmental sustainability by encouraging EV adoption and the buildout of EV charging infrastructure
• Equitable Futures: Alleviate mobility barriers and increase access to affordable and reliable transportation options
• Multimodal Transportation: Modernize existing transportation systems and keep Michigan at the forefront across all connected and autonomous transportation modes

For Michigan-based entities working to address a mobility/electrification challenge or solution providers looking to find a Michigan-based partner, additional Interest Forms are available to support those seeking and 

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