"He clearly gets the idea that we're building a site focused on future transportation," American Center for Mobility CEO John Maddox said.
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - He spoke about the history of the Willow Run factory site, but President Donald Trump did not discuss its future as an autonomous vehicle test site during his speech at the facility on Wednesday, March 15.
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John Maddox, chief executive officer of The American Center for Mobility, said he is still happy with the president's speech overall and his decision to visit Willow Run.
"It didn't really bother us at all. He talked a lot about Willow Run, that's what it's all about," Maddox said. "He talked about the history of the site, he talked about the need for the U.S. auto industry to maintain its preeminence in technology moving forward."
ACM did come up during a private roundtable with automotive officials prior to Trump's speech in Hangar 1, Maddox said, along with topics like regulatory processes, fuel economy and jobs.
Both Trump and Gov. Rick Snyder discussed the importance of manufacturing and keeping it alive in the United States and in Michigan before talk turned to technology.
"Myself and a couple other CEOs and the governor brought up the need to really focus and move quickly on developing these automated vehicles and the technology that's related to make sure the United States stays in the lead," Maddox said.
Trump showed an understanding of automated vehicles and the possible translation to future jobs, Maddox said, while also questioning how states across the country can adopt uniform regulations. It's something Maddox says is one of the focus areas of ACM.
"He clearly gets the idea that we're building a site focused on future transportation," Maddox said.
In its former life, Willow Run served as a manufacturing site for automobiles and also for B-24 bombers during World War II. That was recognized during Trump's speech when he referenced the home of the iconic figure Rosie the Riveter.
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It was later a General Motors factory, and closed in 2010. See a timeline of Willow Run over the last seven years here.
What is ACM?
First introduced by Snyder in January 2016, ACM is a joint initiative of the State of Michigan, including the Michigan Department of Transportation, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Its intention is to create an autonomous and connected vehicle testing facility for use by automotive manufacturers, and it has been named a national proving ground.
The testing facility is one step closer to completion with the unanimous approval of the preliminary site plan by the Ypsilanti Township Planning Commission Tuesday night. The plan contains concepts and details on what construction will take place over the next five years at the facility at 2930 Ecorse Road.
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The property will include a 2.5-mile test track, a tech park with buildings designed for operational and testing support and a cyber security lab, with support from AT&T, and sections offering different traffic scenarios like a rural section with trees and an urban section featuring traffic signals and a six-lane intersection.
Mike Radzik, the township's director of community standards, said it was the first proposal for the site brought to the planning commission and the plans for Willow Run are a reminder of its first purpose.
The planning commission had some specific questions about the confidentiality screening for the site but was overall satisfied with the information ACM representatives provided at an earlier work session.
"It's fair to say the planning commission hasn't seen a project as unique as the American Center for Mobility," Radzik said. "We're very, very happy this is moving forward."
Construction could start as early as April, with an estimated opening date of Dec. 1. Automotive companies already are clamoring for a chance to use the testing facility, Maddox said.
"I must have had 10 questions today before the round table when we were waiting for him (Trump.) There are definitely companies now that would be here testing today if we were ready to accommodate them," Maddox said.
WHY WILLOW RUN
There is a reason for that excitement, and why Trump chose Willow Run as his first stop in Michigan since becoming the 45th president, he added.
"They wanted a site that embodied the spirit of innovation of the auto industry," Maddox said. "If you think about one of the major approaches of reinvigorating the American economy, that's what we're doing for the site."
He also pointed out Willow Run is a neutral site, versus a manufacturer's plant, for an event attended by officials from several automotive companies.
"This is a neutral site, and the fact that we have strong support from every company here today, was a pretty easy decision," Maddox said. "We certainly believe that's why they chose Willow Run."
Trump's visit was a validation for the work being done by ACM, and for the facility that will soon break ground and come to life on a property that has long sat vacant and unused.
"Everyone who came here today was strongly supportive. They knew why it was important to build this place," Maddox said. "We're very proud to have hosted it and we think it really does send a very validating message to us that we're on the right track."
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