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May Mobility expands autonomous vehicle operations to second US city

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May Mobility, an autonomous driving technology company, has launched its second driverless operation in the US, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The company says that testing its “driver-out” system in Ann Arbor is the next step toward expanding autonomous driver-out vehicle services commercially across the US and Japan alongside key partners, including Toyota, NTT and Lyft.

The driver-out testing in Ann Arbor involves significant complexity of traffic, weather patterns and pedestrian density, and operates in and around approximately 2 square miles of Ann Arbor surface streets. [Read more…] about May Mobility expands autonomous vehicle operations to second US city

Fanuc opens new $110 million robotics and automation campus in Michigan

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Fanuc America, one of the world’s largest suppliers of robotics and automation systems, has officially unveiled its new 650,000 square foot West Campus facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The expansion increases the footprint in Michigan to over 2 million square feet and is part of Fanuc America’s strategic investment plan to support and advance industrial automation in North America. The West Campus represents a $110 million investment built on 67 acres of land.

Fanuc America’s industry growth and customer demand has created over 400 jobs in Michigan since 2019. The West Campus provides advanced product manufacturing and customized automation systems and includes warehouse space for over 6,000 quick delivery robots and tens of thousands of parts. [Read more…] about Fanuc opens new $110 million robotics and automation campus in Michigan

May Mobility launches Detroit autonomous vehicle pilot

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May Mobility, a developer of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, has launched its Detroit Automated Driving Systems (ADS) pilot in partnership with the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI) and the Michigan Mobility Collaborative (MMC).

The “Accessibili-D” service aims to improve the quality of life for Detroiters who live with disabilities or are age 62 and older.

The service will be available to select residents of Detroit starting Thursday, June 20, 2024 through 2026. [Read more…] about May Mobility launches Detroit autonomous vehicle pilot

ABB opens refitted, ‘state-of-the-art’ US robotics facility

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ABB has opened its refitted US robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which will support ABB Robotics’ global leadership in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge robotic solutions in the US, for the US and the Americas.

The expanded facility reflects ABB’s commitment to long-term growth in the US market, which is predicted to follow global growth rates for robotics of 8 per cent compound annual growth rate, as well as the company’s global investment to build Robotics and Automation capacity and create new, highly skilled jobs.

This is ABB’s third global robotics factory expansion in three years across China, Europe and the Americas and is part of its efforts to further strengthen its local-for-local footprint.

[Read more…] about ABB opens refitted, ‘state-of-the-art’ US robotics facility

Aubo Robotics opens US headquarters in Michigan

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Aubo Robotics, Asia-Pacific’s leader in the production and research & development of precision collaborative robots (Cobots), announced the grand opening of their Michigan based US office.

Conveniently located outside of Metro Airport in Romulus Michigan, it will serve as headquarters for Aubo’s newly launched dedicated United States branch: Aubo Robotics USA Inc. [Read more…] about Aubo Robotics opens US headquarters in Michigan

Michigan awards $260,000 in grants to mobility technology companies

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The state of Michigan has announced that three companies will receive $260,000 in total funding through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) to test and deploy mobility projects across the state.

With these grants, Michigan will enable new mobility solutions that help address challenges related to school bus emissions, decaying mobility infrastructure and last-mile deliveries, all while reducing on-road miles, emissions, traffic, accidents and noise.

Lt Governor Garlin Gilchrist II says: “Shaping the next generation of mobility solutions means developing more than just automobiles. It means future-proofing our roads and bridges, as well as ensuring that our alternate and last-mile mobility solutions can support the areas where we live, work, visit and play. [Read more…] about Michigan awards $260,000 in grants to mobility technology companies

Fanuc plans to double Michigan campus to accommodate ‘automation demand’

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Fanuc, the world’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots, has launched a West Campus expansion that will push its operational space in Oakland County, Michigan to nearly two million square feet.

The construction will include a 655,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility to house manufacturing, engineering and R&D projects.

This investment in Michigan’s growing manufacturing area includes the purchase of 67 acres of land as well as the site of the former Thomas M. Cooley Law School Campus, which will provide future growth in the education of the next generation of robotics and automation workers. [Read more…] about Fanuc plans to double Michigan campus to accommodate ‘automation demand’

General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units

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General Motors says it will invest more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity.

This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.

Mary Barra, GM chair and CEO, says: “We are taking the next step in our continuous work to establish GM’s EV leadership by making investments in our vertically integrated battery production in the US, and our North American EV production capacity. [Read more…] about General Motors to invest $7 billion in Michigan facilities to ramp up electric vehicle production to 1 million units

‘We wrote the playbook’: Michigan reinvents itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility

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The US state of Michigan is reinventing itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility. From opening an air corridor for drones to building a stretch of road on which electric vehicles can charge themselves wirelessly as they move along, the state is creating an ecosystem which could become something of a template for the rest of America.

Michigan is, as most readers will know, the state in which Detroit is located. Detroit, the most populous city in the state, is the historic centre of the modern global automotive industry, or “Motor Town” as it was famously called many decades ago, inspiring the name “Motown” for the even more famous record label.

And while it may have lost some of its industrial status in recent decades, Detroit still provides homes and office space to some of the largest automotive companies in the world: Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz USA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and a whole range of automotive components, systems and parts manufacturers. [Read more…] about ‘We wrote the playbook’: Michigan reinvents itself as the global capital of autonomous mobility

Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the award of a contract to build a first in the United States public wireless in-road charging system allowing electric vehicles to charge while in motion and stationary.

A company called Electreon has been selected to build an electric road system in Detroit as part of the inductive vehicle charging pilot program.

Governor Whitmer says: “As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system