Representatives from the state of Michigan and the UK have signed a collaboration agreement to share each other’s expertise in automobiles to advance self-driving cars and their infrastructure.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and UK Business Minister Richard Harrington.
Detroit, Michigan is the centre of the U.S. automobile industry with the ‘Big Three’ auto manufacturers General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler all having their headquarters in the city.
In recent years, the UK has become known for its premium and sports car marques including Aston Martin, Bentley, Caterham Cars, Daimler, Jaguar, Lagonda, Land Rover, Lister Cars, Lotus, McLaren, MG, Mini, Morgan, and Rolls-Royce. Volume car manufacturers with a major presence in the UK include Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Vauxhall
Governor Snyder says London has the best model in the world for roadworks and the installation of V2X (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) technology which in the future will be used for communicating road closures and traffic delays to provide alternative routes and ease congestion.
“Michigan leads the world in the development and integration of intelligent connected vehicles, and face-to-face meetings with government leaders and large employers help us strengthen these relationships to collaborate on future technologies,” Snyder said.
Agencies and businesses from Michigan and the UK will share their leading expertise in the research and development of future transport innovation — including technological, regulatory, and policy data. Multilateral and bilateral meetings, workshops, and conferences will be co-hosted.
What are your thoughts on the collaboration? Let us know in the comments.
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