Mobility Week brings new technology, innovations to the Motor City

Ask someone in Detroit what mobility means in the city right now and you’re likely to get many different answers. It could mean the patchwork of ways to travel around the city: car, bus, scooter, bike, foot. It could mean financial mobility, or the complications of a city with a high poverty rate and scattered transit system. Or it could mean the broader future, and how Detroit could be a leader in creating how the world moves in the next generation.

From October 7-12, Mobility Week Detroit aims to showcase Detroit’s leadership in technology and the future of mobility. The umbrella of Mobility Week encompasses many different summits and gatherings, including the annual Tech Stars Demo Day; a Henry Ford Health System conference, “The Eye, The Brain and the Auto;” and the Michigan Auto Summit, which presents students with automotive career possibilities.

The public can check out Detroit Moves, which lands in Spirit Plaza October 10 and 11. This free event will showcase a variety of mobility services and businesses, including MoGo, DDOT, Maven, Chariot, May Mobility, and Airspace.

Also expect an educational village with STEM careers and area universities, along with a village of mobility-related start-ups, demonstrations, and interactive experiences with mobility technology. The Detroit Moves website even touts that a flying car will be there.

“The Detroit region is leading in the development of next-generation mobility technology,” said Glenn Stevens, vice president of automotive and mobility initiatives for the Detroit Regional Chamber and executive director of MICHauto. “These events offer an opportunity to not only showcase these emerging technologies, but also provide a way for the industry professionals to connect with the talent needed to continue to lead.”

Detroit Moves is a free festival that runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 10 and 11. Mobility Week Detroit includes events around the city throughout the week.