North American International Auto Show 2019
Welcome to PlanetM's coverage of the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Follow @PlanetM on Twitter and LinkedIn and interact with the PlanetM team through our social channels.
The North American International Auto Show welcomes 40,000 media and industry representatives from around the world during preview week, and more than 800,000 visitors during "public days."
NAIAS and Michigan's Automotive Industry by the Numbers

More than 300 new models of electric vehicles are expected to be released over the next five years. How will EVs change Michigan's auto industry?
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist visit NAIAS 2019
Governor Gretchen Whitmer tours the floor of the North American International Auto Show for the first time as governor.
"We are on the cutting edge of so much automotive R&D. Michigan is the center of it, and we want to maintain that."@gretchenwhitmer and Lt. Gov. @garlin Gilchrist II met with automotive leaders at @NAIASDetroit Tuesday to learn about the industry's newest innovations. #NAIAS pic.twitter.com/HQWYhLfpjl
— MI Econ Dev Corp. (@MEDC) January 16, 2019
How is Michigan's automotive industry evolving? Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II shares his impressions of the newest innovations at NAIAS 2019.
Click here to view photos and read the entire Twitter thread.What's new in the world of #mobility? Lt. Gov. @garlin Gilchrist II toured #AutomobiliD at @NAIASDetroit Thursday to find out.#NAIAS #PlanetM pic.twitter.com/p2dE2wa7do
— PlanetM (@planetm) January 17, 2019
Michigan Senators Visit AutoMobili-D
Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters visited AutoMobili-D Monday to meet with startups, educators and innovators about the newest research and innovations in the mobility space.
"In the early 1900s, Michigan was the transformational place for the 20th century. That's now happening here because of mobility in the 21st century."@SenGaryPeters on the #mobility innovations at #AutomobiliD at @NAIASDetroit. #NAIAS #PlanetM pic.twitter.com/RCdMNLvchi
— PlanetM (@planetm) January 14, 2019
PlanetM Awards 2019
The PlanetM Awards honor enterprises developing innovative mobility-focused platforms and technologies. Founded in 2018, the PlanetM Awards brings together the best mobility companies around the world to Michigan to compete for the ultimate title, Best in Show.
2019 PlanetM Awards Categories and Winners
- PlanetM Awards Best in Show: Wave Sense
- Autonomous Driving: Wave Sense
- Connected Car: Haas Alert
- eMobility: Detroit Flying Cars
- Mobility Services: DeepHow
- Smart Cities: Derq
PlanetM Pitch Competition 2019 Category Winners
- Mobility Application: Xapix
- Mobility Technology: Alchemy Nano
- Mobility Services: IntelliTire
Congratulations to all of the winners in the 2019 PlanetM Awards!

WATCH: The PlanetM Awards at AutoMobili-D at the 2019 North American International Auto Show
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Announces $8 Million Mobility Challenge Grant Recipients
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the final round of pilot projects to receive funding under the $8 Million Michigan Mobility Challenge initiative at the North American International Auto Show. Gov. Whitmer was joined at the announcement by Paul Ajegba, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Jeff Mason, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Trevor Pawl, Group Vice President of PlanetM and disabilities advocate Dr. Kimberly Kennedy of Grand Rapids.
Projects in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, the Central Upper Peninsula and Southeast Michigan will recieve funding under the Michigan Mobility Challenge grants, which address core mobility gaps for seniors, persons with disabilities and veterans across the state.
Read the full announcement: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces new mobility projects at the North American International Auto Show that will increase accessiblity for Michigan residents.
WATCH: PlanetM Press Conference with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the 2019 North American International Auto Show.
NAIAS Welcomes Second Round of Mobility "Match Meetings"
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), in partnership with he Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)/PlanetM, hosted the return of the highly successful business-to-business “Match Meetings” on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
The matchmaking business development meetings promote new connections and collaborations among technology startups, automakers, suppliers and venture capitalists.
“In its inaugural year in 2018, the AutoMobili-D Match Meetings at NAIAS generated over $10 million in investment and contracts between corporations, investors and startups,” said Seun Phillips, PlanetM Director. “Over 75 startups applied for meetings, each having the ability to participate in up to 20 meetings – translating into unmatched business development opportunities and exposure to key audience groups.”
MEDC, PlanetM and NAIAS, along with Techstars Mobility, conducted a series of vetted, prescheduled meetings for participating AutoMobili-D and NAIAS exhibitors. The meetings were held during the first day of Industry Preview, an event synonymous with attracting 40,000 automotive and mobility experts from around the world.
“The North American International Auto Show is a global stage for game-changing companies to demonstrate and debut technologies on future mobility and transportation platforms,” said 2019 NAIAS Chairman Bill Golling. “What better way to promote continued collaboration and tap into the talent and energy of mobility innovators than through focused matchmaking spearheaded by the State of Michigan.”
If you're a mobility startup, what's the best way to grow your business? Talk directly to manufacturers and suppliers, right?
— PlanetM (@planetm) January 17, 2019
That's where #PlanetM comes in. #NAIAS2019 pic.twitter.com/Ri4FnT5dsU