On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Michigan’s chief mobility officer, Trevor Pawl, about a major announcement Thursday to help with one transportation challenge we all experience: finding a parking space. 

Speaking at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars Thursday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer offered details on a smart-parking lab initiative, a collaboration with Ford, Bedrock, the American Center for Mobility, and Bosch to test advanced technologies in parking, logistics and electrical vehicle charging. 

In 2018, research compiled by Senseable City Lab at MIT and Allianz quantified what parking needs would be in an era of automated vehicles.

Today’s news builds on a recent announcement of Michigan Strategic Fund support for Ford’s new global battery center of excellence, securing its location in Romulus and helping to drive momentum as the state continues to emerge as an electric vehicle R&D and manufacturing leader.   

Ford is also transforming the historic Michigan Central Station and several adjacent properties in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood into an innovation district and open platform to redefine the future of transportation and pave the way for the connected, autonomous and electrified world ahead.

Also discussed: President Biden on Thursday unveiled a plan to make U.S. cars and light trucks more fuel efficient and to begin a shift to electric vehicles over the coming decade.