Detroit’s North American International Auto Show was the place for a plethora of mobility-related announcements this week, including some significant news from the Boulder, CO-based Techstars accelerator program. Techstars launched an incubator for mobility startups in the Motor City four years ago, and the program has flourished since. In recognition of that success as well … Continue reading “Auto Show Notes: Techstars Mobility Rebrands, Expands Mission”
Tag: North American International Auto Show
NAIAS: Ford’s Foray into Microtransit Proved Valuable, Klevorn Says
Detroit’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) pulled back the curtains for a media preview Monday and Tuesday before it opens its doors to the public next week. Coming on the heels of CES—the annual technology conference in Las Vegas that has increasingly become the preferred venue for automakers to showcase their latest technology developments—the … Continue reading “NAIAS: Ford’s Foray into Microtransit Proved Valuable, Klevorn Says”
Ford Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technology at $45M Test Bed
Ford Motor Company is undergoing a transformation from nuts-and-bolts automaker to something that more closely resembles a tech company, and this week, the company offered press tours of its $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford, MI. The center, meant to be a sort of digital test bed, didn’t look at all like a traditional … Continue reading “Ford Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technology at $45M Test Bed”
Mighty AI’s Training Data Helps Mcity Drive Mobility Projects Faster
Last June, when Seattle-based startup Mighty AI opened a second office in Detroit, the company said it chose the Motor City over Silicon Valley because of its proximity to automotive customers and a firm belief in the future of autonomous navigation. Mighty AI has just deepened its ties to the Great Lakes State with the … Continue reading “Mighty AI’s Training Data Helps Mcity Drive Mobility Projects Faster”
After Conquering Detroit Auto Show, Carmera to Expand Mapping Service
At the North American International Auto Show, which just wrapped in Detroit, New York-based Carmera won best in show at the startup competition hosted by AutoMobili-D, and also received startup of the year honors in the autonomous driving category from the state’s PlanetM program. Not bad for a company that just exited stealth mode a … Continue reading “After Conquering Detroit Auto Show, Carmera to Expand Mapping Service”
Detroit Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Mobility Technologies, Startups
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) kicked off this week in Detroit, allowing industry affiliates and media to get an early look before the show opens to the public this weekend. For the second year in a row, NAIAS highlighted the mobility sector’s potential business models and offered glimpses of how the trillion-dollar market … Continue reading “Detroit Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Mobility Technologies, Startups”
Toyota, Ford, Aptiv, Baidu Lead Crowd Pushing Mobility at CES
In the past, the tech conference CES has primarily highlighted consumer electronics and other cool gadgets, but as automakers continue their quest to be taken seriously by the tech industry, the Las Vegas show held every January has increasingly become the venue of choice for car companies that want to show off their latest autonomous … Continue reading “Toyota, Ford, Aptiv, Baidu Lead Crowd Pushing Mobility at CES”
Roundup: NextChallenge Winners, Strata Oncology Trial, MCWT & More
What a long, strange year it’s been, with no shortage of news coming out of the technology sector. As we say goodbye to 2017, here’s a final roundup of innovation news from around the state: —Detroit cleantech incubator NextEnergy, in partnership with Denso, DTE Energy, and Wells Fargo, has named Ontario’s SmartCone as the winner of the … Continue reading “Roundup: NextChallenge Winners, Strata Oncology Trial, MCWT & More”
Catching Up with 2016 Techstars Mobility Class: What Did They Learn?
Detroit’s Techstars Mobility startup accelerator has wrapped another summer of innovating and iterating, and the 12 participating companies are now headed out into the marketplace to hustle. I caught up with managing director Ted Serbinski and the rest of the Techstars crew earlier this month—the day after they pitched investors and sang the praises of … Continue reading “Catching Up with 2016 Techstars Mobility Class: What Did They Learn?”
As the Mobility Sector Revs Up, Startups and Dealerships Respond
Mobility, in case you haven’t heard, is the up-and-coming tech buzzword driving the future of transportation. As defined by the auto industry, mobility refers to moving goods and people from point A to point B. This encompasses vehicles for personal use, fleet vehicles, public transit, ridesharing, bicycles, car-sharing, self-driving cars, planes, trains, and essentially any … Continue reading “As the Mobility Sector Revs Up, Startups and Dealerships Respond”
The Hottest Trend at This Year’s Detroit Auto Show? Not Cars
There is never an official theme at the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held last week in Detroit, but one usually emerges as automakers showcase their latest innovations, hoping to one-up each other while garnering consumer and media interest. One year it was electrification; another year, it was infotainment. This year, the buzzword … Continue reading “The Hottest Trend at This Year’s Detroit Auto Show? Not Cars”
Kymeta Raises $62M, Demonstrates Satellite Antenna on Toyota Car Roof
Investors in Kymeta, including Bill Gates, have plowed another $62 million into the Seattle-area technology company as it aims to bring lower cost, high-speed satellite communications to automobiles and other vehicles. Kymeta’s metamaterials-based satellite antenna technology is on display this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where Toyota is showing a … Continue reading “Kymeta Raises $62M, Demonstrates Satellite Antenna on Toyota Car Roof”
Local Motors Looks to Disrupt Manufacturing with 3D-Printed Car
At this year’s edition of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), going on right now in Detroit, I saw a few things I hadn’t seen in previous years. One was the presence of bomb-sniffing dogs, thanks to a suspicious package left across the street from the auto show that was later determined to be … Continue reading “Local Motors Looks to Disrupt Manufacturing with 3D-Printed Car”
A2B Bikeshare Aims to Build a Better Bike-Sharing System
Millennials are famous for being not terribly keen on owning cars. Instead, they’re interested in alternative forms of transportation, such as public transit, on-demand hourly car rentals, and bike sharing. This is causing a major shift in the way car companies woo customers; January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, for instance, marked the … Continue reading “A2B Bikeshare Aims to Build a Better Bike-Sharing System”
Detroit Auto Show Spotlights Wearable Technology and Connected Cars
The 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is wrapping up in Detroit this week, and this year’s edition marks the first time I’ve ever seen a smart bike on display at a car show—which, in a way, is a sign that the auto industry has bounced back and is seeking innovative ways to differentiate … Continue reading “Detroit Auto Show Spotlights Wearable Technology and Connected Cars”
Notes From the Auto Show: Smarter, Sexier, More Fun
I feel a little silly admitting this, but the word that kept echoing in my head as I walked around this year’s installment of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was “sexy.” NAIAS was all vehicles with swooping curves, swanky booths serving espresso with a fancy assortment of sweeteners, and lanky models draped over … Continue reading “Notes From the Auto Show: Smarter, Sexier, More Fun”
Notes From the Detroit Auto Show: Connectivity is King
Though the North American International Auto Show just opened to the public Saturday, I was able to preview it last week with other reporters from around the world. Unlike the past few years, which were dominated by austerity and green tech, the feeling I got this year is that the car companies are seeking to … Continue reading “Notes From the Detroit Auto Show: Connectivity is King”