Mobility at Michigan
REImagining the future of transportation
The University of Michigan is bringing together transportation and mobility expertise across campus and beyond to chart a path for continued U.S. leadership and build a future that’s safe, equitable, sustainable and secure.
Research 2018-2023
$601M+
Startups 2014-2023
20
RESEARCHERS
120+
EQUITABLE
Lack of reliable transportation hampers access to jobs, healthcare, school, food and more, contributing to today’s unprecedented income disparities. We’re developing solutions that are affordable, available and accessible to everyone—including the elderly and those with disabilities.
SECURE
Mobility technologies and systems underpin U.S. prosperity at home and defense abroad. Amid today’s geopolitical instability, the nation must maintain leadership. We’re advancing autonomy, human-autonomy teaming, modeling and simulation, and onshoring of key supply chains.
SAFE
Injuries and deaths on U.S. roads remain high. To reduce them, we’re working on vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity and autonomy, plus vehicle and infrastructure design that considers pedestrians and cyclists in addition to vehicle occupants.
SUSTAINABLE
Transportation contributes 27% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—it’s a critical sector to decarbonize. Our multi-pronged approach includes EVs, low-carbon fuels, recyclability and connectivity, and we’re exploring social aspects of technology adoption and transportation systems.
Our Vision
Mobility drives a thriving society. It upholds individual quality of life, a strong economy and a secure nation. But we’re at a turning point in transportation that rivals the dawn of the affordable automobile, built in Michigan more than 100 years ago. The technologies and systems that served us for decades must evolve to address today’s urgent challenges like climate change, societal disparities, roadway injuries and deaths, and global conflicts.
The Mobility at Michigan initiative brings together researchers and educators from across U-M and beyond to reimagine the future of transportation. It was launched in 2023 by five Michigan Engineering mobility organizations that together possess 160 years of national leadership.
Mobility at Michigan’s goals
Facilitate a broad-based, integrated approach to solving today’s complex transportation challenges and building a future that’s safe, equitable, sustainable and secure.
Cultivate an ecosystem of innovation that breaks down silos and advances mobility as a whole system, integrating research, education and workforce development, and public engagement.
Accelerate thoughtful advancement in technologies such as autonomy, electrification, low-carbon fuels, connectivity, and modeling and simulation.
Latest News
October 9, 2024
The opening coincides with a new industry partnership project announced at the NVIDIA AI Summit.
September 17, 2024
Data suggests the switch to EVs may not mean the loss of assembly jobs some predicted.
August 1, 2024
Digital engineering for autonomous vehicles will be the main focus of the center’s next five years.
July 12, 2024
Digital engineering for autonomous vehicles will be the main focus of the center’s next five years.
Founding Organizations
Mcity
With a next-generation proving ground for connected and automated vehicles, an AI data engine and mixed-reality, remote testing capabilities, Mcity is enabling the safe rollout of emerging mobility solutions. Beyond facilities and tools, the interdisciplinary public-private partnership offers student programs, funds research and belongs to the Accessible Mobility Collaborative. Founded in 2013, its test facility was the world’s first purpose-built proving ground for connected and automated vehicles.
U-M Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI)
Transportation safety practices and policies around the globe are informed by UMTRI’s research. For 60 years, it has led in crash and driving data analysis, driver behavior, injury biomechanics and ergonomics, occupant restraint systems and traffic modeling. Today it operates the Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment, which has amassed the world’s largest set of vehicle-to-vehicle (V3V) data from 2.5 million hours of real-world driving. Founded in 1965, UMTRI’s primary funders are the federal and state governments.
Electric Vehicle Center (EVC)
Guided by an industry-driven roadmap, the EV Center aims to accelerate electric vehicle technology, education, and workforce development to meet needs in Michigan and beyond. Its soon-to-be-expanded Battery Lab was the nation’s first university-based pilot line in 2015 and is the only one in the heart of the auto industry. The EVC was founded in 2022 with $130 million from the state of Michigan.
Automotive Research Center (ARC)
As a US Army Center of Excellence, ARC develops cutting-edge modeling and simulation tools to advance autonomous ground vehicle systems for the military and commercial sectors. It brings together researchers in engineering, machine learning, human factors, psychology and beyond from 14 universities, four government agencies and 34 industry partners. Founded in 1994, ARC was renewed in 2024 for five years and up to $100 million.
Lay Auto Lab
Improving car and truck propulsion technologies is the primary focus of the Walter E. Lay Automotive Engineering Lab. In its 19 specialized test bays, researchers study engine efficiency, hybrid powertrains, low-carbon fuels, battery diagnostics, emissions and more. While the lab opened in 1957, its roots can be traced to the early 1900s. A renovation will soon expand its battery capabilities for EV, grid, building and micro-mobility applications.
Timeline of impact
Email with questions or just to introduce yourself