Innovate or Die: MichAuto Kicks Off Statewide Policy Roadmap for the Future of the Automotive Industry

Learn more about the initiative in the news release below.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (March 12, 2026) — More than 60 leaders from businesses, economic development organizations, government, and education institutions across Grand Rapids and West Michigan gathered this week for the first in a series of statewide roundtables focused on strengthening Michigan’s long-term competitiveness in the global automotive industry.

MichAuto, the state’s only automotive and mobility industry cluster association and an initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber, hosted the discussion among leaders from across West Michigan’s manufacturing and automotive ecosystem to examine the forces reshaping the industry and identify opportunities to ensure Michigan remains a global center of automotive and mobility innovation and production.

“The automotive industry is experiencing unprecedented change and a pace of technological innovation not seen since its birth over 120 years ago,” said Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto and Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer at the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Forces of change, from AI to electrification to fierce Chinese competition, are disrupting the industry from top to bottom. Michigan needs a cohesive, long-term strategy to ensure its future success.”

The roundtable, held ahead of the 27th Michigan Automotive Suppliers Symposium, marked the beginning of MichAuto’s broader statewide effort to develop the MichAuto Automobility Policy Roadmap, which is a comprehensive strategic policy plan for the industry. The project comes as Michigan confronts rapid changes driven by electrification, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and evolving global supply chains all while facing increased competition from China as well as southern U.S. states that are vying to lead in next-generation mobility.

“Michigan has all the assets to remain a global mobility leader, but we cannot win the future of the industry on our legacy alone. We need to innovate, or we risk falling behind in the industry we created,” Stevens added. “That requires forward-leaning, consistent policies that empower our automotive manufacturers and suppliers to make long-term investments and do what they best, which is to create world-class vehicles built by a world-class workforce.”

The initiative is intentionally bipartisan and statewide in scope. Michigan’s automotive industry supports jobs and economic opportunity across every region of the state, and its continued success requires collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, educators, and communities.

“The success of Michigan’s automotive industry depends on the strength of the entire ecosystem across the state,” said Jon Husby President, ADAC. “Suppliers, manufacturers, policymakers, and educators all have a role to play. Efforts like these roundtables are important because they bring those voices together to focus on how Michigan can continue to lead the global automotive industry.”

Michigan remains the number one state in vehicle production and business-funded automotive R & D and has the highest concentration of the engineers in the U.S and twice the national average. The state is home to 25 original equipment manufacturers and 95 of the top 100 suppliers to North America. Nearly one in five jobs in the state are tied to the automotive and mobility industry, which provides a $348 billion annual economic output, or 27% of the state’s GDP.

“Michigan has a proven formula for leading in automotive, but it needs an overhaul as this industry experiences a historic transition to next-generation mobility,” said MichAuto Senior Director Drew Coleman. “We need to cultivate high-tech talent, create the best business climate for Michigan companies, and provide thoughtful policy that fosters innovation and economic growth. When we do that, this industry has proven time and again, it will deliver good-paying jobs, strengthen our local communities, and anchor the U.S. manufacturing base.”

West Michigan plays a critical role in Michigan’s automotive supply chain, with a strong concentration of advanced manufacturing companies, engineering talent, and suppliers that support the global automotive industry. Participants in the Grand Rapids discussion examined key issues, including workforce development, supply chain resilience, infrastructure investment, and the policy environment needed to support continued manufacturing growth in Michigan.

“West Michigan is a critical part of Michigan’s automotive and advanced manufacturing ecosystem,” said Rick Baker, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Rapids Chamber. “Companies across this region play an important role in the global automotive supply chain, and the conversations happening here today help ensure Michigan remains competitive as the industry evolves. Bringing leaders together in Grand Rapids highlights the important role West Michigan plays in shaping the future of mobility.”

“Our industry is so engrained in our culture and way of life in Michigan that we tend to take it for granted,” Stevens added. “It supports jobs and economic opportunity in every region in the state, but our future success requires all Michiganders to come together, find common ground, and chart a course into the future that positions it for success over the long haul.”

Insights gathered during the Grand Rapids discussion will help inform the development of a broader policy roadmap for Michigan’s automotive competitiveness. The roadmap will outline strategies to better align workforce development, economic development, infrastructure investment, and public policy to support continued innovation and manufacturing leadership in Michigan.

Additional roundtables will take place across Michigan throughout the year, bringing together leaders from industry, government, labor, education, and economic development organizations to contribute to the effort which will result in a comprehensive policy plan to be released later this year.

“Michigan has extraordinary strengths, and our automotive industry is the best tool we have to diversify and grow our economy,” Stevens said. “Our engineering talent, manufacturing expertise, and supplier network are unmatched. The opportunity before us is to align those assets and ensure Michigan reestablishes its competitive edge in the global marketplace. As a trusted, non-partisan industry champion, MichAuto is uniquely positioned to lead this crucial conversation and help author a policy roadmap that secures our signature industry for the next generation.”