The American Center for Mobility was buzzing with tech talk, EV energy, roadway infrastructure, ADAS testing, and autonomous vehicle activity during ACM’s annual Demo Day on April 28, 2026. Nearly 100 industry guests gathered for the event, which opened with a look at ACM’s recent momentum and offered a firsthand view of the companies testing, collaborating, and bringing the next generation of mobility technologies to market.
From ACM’s resident garages — which are now 90% leased — to its 2.5-mile high-speed autonomous vehicle highway loop, some of the country’s most innovative companies are helping fulfill the original vision for the 500-acre campus: keeping next-generation mobility innovation centered in Michigan and building on the state’s legacy as a global transportation leader.
Demo Day offered a glimpse into that innovation pipeline. Among the companies showcasing their work:
- Motmot, founded in 2022 by Elliot Smith and Zack Koslowski, demonstrated its underwater robotics technology designed to help municipalities identify and repair aging water infrastructure before major breaks occur. (Fun fact: one of Detroit’s oldest active water pipes is made of wood and dates back to the late 1800s.)
- Cybersecurity partner Drivesec highlighted how it helps protect the software powering autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and connected technologies.
- Retrospect gave attendees a closer look at autonomous transit through its self-driving bus demonstration.
- The team from Michigan Technological University (MTU) showcased adaptive beam lighting and work-zone occupant detection technology in ACM’s tunnel, which simulates challenging “sun-dark-sun” driving transitions. MTU has been a resident partner at ACM since 2024 and continues to bring top engineering talent to the campus.
- Powered by MTU, guided soft target testing also drew attention, including the use of an AB Dynamics Soft Motorcycle 360 target that supports realistic ADAS and AV validation using camera, radar, and lidar systems.
A recurring theme of Demo Day is that ACM doesn’t just support Michigan’s mobility ecosystem—it attracts companies and talent from across the country and around the world. Speaker Ashley Edwards traveled from North Carolina on behalf of Finland-based Kempower to showcase the company’s DC Fast Charger, an all-in-one solution with dynamic power management.
While these demonstrations stood out, they were just part of a much larger ecosystem represented at Demo Day. Additional exhibitors and sponsors included a2Tech360 powered by Ann Arbor SPARK, 4activeSystems, Deepview Corp., GeneSys Elektronic, New Eagle, SAE Industry Technologies Consortia, Snowbotix, SWIFT ACT, Technical Professionals Group (TPG), and VicOne.
Ann Arbor SPARK has supported ACM since the beginning. As the region’s economic development organization, SPARK helped identify Willow Run as a strong adaptive reuse opportunity following the plant’s demolition, supported the formation of ACM as a nonprofit organization, worked alongside state partners on early financing efforts, and continues to support the campus through board leadership, strategic partnerships, and marketing initiatives. That partnership continues today through efforts like a2Tech360, which helps connect ACM to startups, industry leaders, investors, and talent while elevating the campus nationally.
If Demo Day sparked your interest in ACM — as a resident, industry partner, or unique event venue — schedule a tour to see the campus in action. Contact Kevin.Kelly@acmwillowrun.org to learn more.
