Michigan’s Mobility Future: Key Insights from Chief Officer Justine Johnson

As mobility transforms in the electric era, Michigan is positioning itself at the epicenter of innovation. In a recent interview at the North American International Auto Show, Justine Johnson—Michigan’s new Chief Mobility Officer—shared insights into the state’s strategic vision for the future of transportation. From e-boats to equitable EV access, Johnson detailed a comprehensive approach that ties workforce development, infrastructure planning, and sustainability under one coordinated mission.

This article unpacks the key takeaways from that conversation, offering engineers, investors, and EV enthusiasts a look into how Michigan is steering toward a smarter, more inclusive mobility ecosystem.

Building the Epicenter of Mobility

Michigan’s role as a national and global automotive leader is evolving. While historically known for its deep roots in internal combustion engine manufacturing, the state is actively rebranding itself as a hub for clean mobility innovation. At the heart of this effort is the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), which Johnson now leads.

In her words, the office aims to “strengthen our work within the mobility space… bringing people and industry along when we talk about mobility across the state.” That means not just focusing on vehicles, but on the larger ecosystem—policy, equity, infrastructure, and workforce.

What, How, Who, and Where

The conversation with Johnson highlighted an important framework for understanding Michigan’s mobility strategy: the “what, how, who, and where.”

What: Vehicles—traditional, electric, connected, autonomous.
How: Technology solutions and OEM/vendor innovations.
Who: Universities and workforce development partners.
Where: Michigan itself, the geographic and economic center of it all.

This holistic model places Michigan in a unique position to coordinate efforts across sectors and disciplines. It’s not just about manufacturing the next EV—it’s about supporting the infrastructure, the people, and the policies that make adoption scalable and sustainable.

Early Wins: E-Boats and Real-World Testing

Although only a month into her role, Johnson identified several promising initiatives already underway:

Fresh Coast Corridor: A pioneering program focused on electric maritime mobility. By targeting e-boat development and deployment, Michigan is extending the conversation beyond roads and highways to include the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
Michigan Mobility Funding Platform: A state-run grant system enabling companies to pilot real-world EV and mobility solutions. By funding deployment—not just research—Michigan is accelerating innovation and market validation.
University Partnerships: Active collaboration with academic institutions helps integrate cutting-edge research, student engagement, and field testing into statewide goals.

These programs emphasize pilot-to-scale thinking. Johnson noted that “opportunity areas that are repeatable” are key indicators of success—paving the way for statewide and even national replication.

Strategic Vision: The My Future Mobility Plan

Launched in 2022, the MI Future Mobility Plan sets the strategic direction for Michigan’s mobility transformation. The plan revolves around three core pillars:

Expanding Industry Opportunities
Workforce Development
Policy Leadership and Sustainable Infrastructure

To ensure transparency and measurable progress, a public dashboard tracks eleven specific goals aligned with these pillars. Johnson encourages industry stakeholders to explore the website and follow how these metrics evolve.

Equity, Access, and the People Behind the Tech

One of Johnson’s most passionate points was about mobility equity. The future of mobility isn’t just about electrification—it’s about ensuring that everyone has access, regardless of income, ability, or geography.

This includes:

EV chargers in rural areas, not just dense urban corridors.
Designing vehicles accessible to people with disabilities.
Offering multiple modes—e-bikes, e-scooters, ride shares—for communities without car ownership.

She also underscored the human side of the mobility shift: “It’s really the people who continue to make this work thrive and happen.” That means supporting current auto workers through the transition to new technologies, and equipping future workers with the training needed to support EVs, autonomous systems, and digital infrastructure.

Rethinking Autonomous Vehicles and Shared Mobility

During the interview, a playful exchange about self-driving cars brought clarity to how AVs are being envisioned: not as backyard-bound personal transporters, but as public-facing, street-based shared fleets. Johnson emphasized that AVs are part of a multi-modal blend, designed to serve specific use cases—such as seniors, people with mobility issues, or areas underserved by public transit.

Key insight: There is no one-size-fits-all mobility solution.

This is crucial for engineers and product designers to consider. Flexibility, modularity, and adaptability in hardware and software are likely to be critical success factors.

Metrics of Success: Safety, Scalability, and Human Impact

When asked how she would define success in this new role, Johnson highlighted:

Scalability: Solutions must work beyond a single city or pilot. The ability to replicate and expand is vital.
Safety: Both vehicle occupants and pedestrians must benefit from improved safety metrics. Zero fatalities on roads should be the goal.
Human connectivity: “People can get to their families… people are traveling in a safer way… that is a win.” In other words, transportation must enable human outcomes, not just tech milestones.

These aren’t just feel-good metrics—they reflect a shift in mobility ROI from purely financial to societal and systemic.

Key Insights in Michigan’s Mobility Future

Engineers: Design with flexibility. Modular platforms that serve different users—elderly, disabled, urban, rural—will win.
Investors: Pay attention to Michigan’s funding platforms and dashboard tracking. Programs here may be bellwethers for national trends.
Policy Makers: Michigan is testing equitable deployment of EV infrastructure. Consider these pilots when drafting your own EV readiness strategies.
OEMs and Suppliers: Be part of Michigan’s ecosystem. The state’s strong vendor-university-government coordination means pilot projects can rapidly validate your tech in real-world scenarios.

Drive the Future with Munro & Michigan

Michigan’s new strategy offers powerful insights, positioning the state as a leader in electric innovation and redefining the future of mobility for the decades ahead. And it isn’t just theoretical—it’s happening now, with real funding, real pilots, and real leadership from people like Justine Johnson. For those committed to electrification, lean design, and innovation at scale, Michigan offers a proving ground.

At Munro & Associates, we remain committed to expert teardown analysis, engineering excellence, and strategic insight. Stay with us as we continue exploring the cutting edge of automotive transformation.

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