With a new year underway in Southeast Michigan, it is time to visit our very own winter oasis – the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The glamorous annual extravaganza celebrating our hometown industry opens to the public this Saturday, January 20.
Colorful lights and electronic billboards are the first things you’ll notice as you enter the floor show, drawing you to the shiny, new cars, SUVs, and trucks. But don’t let the good looks fool you…these vehicles are also smart!
Adaptive cruise control, front pedestrian braking, side blind zone alert, and park assist are just some of the smart features found on these vehicles. These technologies are helping to increase travel safety and represent stepping stones to the connected and autonomous vehicles of the not-so-distant future.
Improving travel safety was identified by Southeast Michigan residents as a high priority in last year’s SEMCOG Regional Transportation Planning Survey. As discussed in conversations about self-driving vehicles at SEMCOG’s Reimagining Transportation summit last year, technology advancements are a big ingredient for improving safety.
If you visit NAIAS this year, be sure to see Automobili-D, a 150,000-square-foot exposition focused on the rapidly evolving global automotive and mobility landscape. Planet M Hall, immediately adjacent, highlights Michigan’s leadership in autonomous vehicles.
NAIAS displays to the world what we have accomplished with our human talent, assets, and partnerships. This year, it also offers opportunities to understand what it will be like to live in a world changed by emerging vehicle technologies.
SEMCOG, together with our members and partners, backs these efforts through many initiatives, including the Partnering for Prosperity Economic Development Strategy for Southeast Michigan, which supports advancement of innovation and technology; education of our future workforce talent; and investments in transportation and critical infrastructure.
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