MICHauto Founding Sponsors Announce Launch of Michigan's Automotive Accelerator

New Organization is the First to Focus on Promoting and Developing Michigan's Global Leadership in the Automotive Industry

DETROIT, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four founding sponsors have announced the formation of MICHauto, Michigan's Automotive Accelerator, the first nonprofit membership group dedicated to promoting and supporting the state's global leadership in the automotive industry.

"Many other trade, research and economic development organizations already have important programs that support Michigan's economy or the auto industry," said Tom Manganello, head of the automotive practice at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP and chairman of the group. "However, MICHauto is the first to concentrate only on Michigan's automotive industry. Our focus is only automotive and only in Michigan. This unique focus has been successful in other regions, and with the launch of MICHauto, it can begin to succeed in Michigan."

Automotive and other transportation manufacturing directly contributes $38 billion to Michigan's $342 billion state economy, according to U.S. Dept. of Commerce data. One of every four automotive assembly plants in the country is located in Michigan. Those facts make the industry a powerful economic engine worth saving.

Stephen Polk, chairman, president and CEO of R. L. Polk & Co. said, "Since the birth of the automotive industry in the early 20th century, Michigan has been its undisputed global hub. For decades Michigan needed little more than its own strength and momentum to maintain that position. However, global competition has changed the equation. In the 21st century it will take unprecedented communication, collaboration and creativity to maintain Michigan's leadership - and MICHauto will play a key role in that."

Because of its unique position, Michigan has suffered more than other regions as manufacturing jobs have gone offshore. In the last five years Michigan lost 67,000 automotive manufacturing jobs - half of all those jobs lost by the country as a whole.

"While we have seen a shift of certain manufacturing processes to lower- cost regions, there remains in Michigan an important core of talent and facilities unmatched anywhere in the globe," said Steve Laughman, global automotive industry practice leader for Deloitte & Touche LLP USA. "It's up to us to nurture that, promote it, and grow it."

Domestic and foreign automakers and suppliers operate more than 200 technical and research and development facilities in Michigan. A total of 58 Michigan institutions of higher education teach and grant degrees in engineering, business and technical fields.

"We have a brain trust here in Michigan," said Johann Finkelmeier, vice president and general manager of North American original equipment consumer tires for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. "Now it is time to put all our heads together to redefine how we all work. Great crises create great new opportunities. MICHauto will help us find them and exploit them."

  MICHauto, Michigan's Automotive Accelerator, was organized to:
   - Leverage Michigan's automotive industry cluster to sustain and grow its
     position as a global leader in research, development and manufacturing
   - Serve as the "hub" of Michigan's automotive cluster, promoting
     collaboration and unlocking its power to increase Michigan's
     competitive advantages
   - Serve its members by providing unique benefits that will help grow and
     enhance their Michigan-based automotive-related businesses.

In its first year, MICHauto leaders expect to host a series of structured summit meetings where high-level executives in the auto industry and leaders of Michigan's colleges and universities can examine issues such as:

   - Identifying collaborations that can generate technological innovations
     and speed them to market
   - Creating better opportunities to keep top college graduates in Michigan
   - Ensuring that high-quality training and retraining programs are
     available for people in the automotive industry who need to learn new
     skills.

MICHauto also expects to aggregate information to create a comprehensive directory of automotive companies, schools and supporting resources. Through its web site - www.michauto.org - and other programs, MICHauto will be positioned to serve as a portal for any automotive company - foreign or domestic - considering an investment in Michigan.

"We don't see ourselves as competing with or duplicating any of the efforts of the 200 economic development organizations that are working diligently throughout the state," said Manganello. "We see ourselves as helping them any way we can within the automotive industry. We are all Michigan, all automotive and all inclusive."

"Because we are uniquely focused on Michigan, we don't see ourselves competing with any industry trade associations," Manganello added. "Within a global industry, they naturally should be thinking globally. Our role is to work with them on specific projects that benefit Michigan."

Membership in MICHauto will be open to any individuals and organizations that live or operate in Michigan and are committed to the growth of the automotive industry here. Members are expected to come from private companies, public corporations, foundations, educational institutions, unions, trade associations and economic development organizations. Dues will range from $25 for students to $4,000 for large corporations. MICHauto will also be soliciting sponsors for its events, services and other products.

Contact MICHauto at info@michauto.org or www.michauto.org.

MICHauto will be a Michigan nonprofit trade association. Its founding sponsors are Deloitte & Touche LLP USA, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., R. L. Polk & Co., and Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. In-kind supporters include Rossbach Consulting, Softura, Inc., and WJR-AM.