Auto Tech

China’s Hydrogen Aviation Breakthrough Could Ripple Into Michigan’s Mobility Economy

DETROIT - China’s successful liquid hydrogen aircraft test is more than an aerospace milestone. For Michigan, it may be an early warning shot in the next global manufacturing and mobility race. The state already has billions tied to hydrogen development, fuel-cell research, heavy transportation infrastructure and advanced mobility systems. If hydrogen-powered aviation, trucking and industrial

Your Next Oil Change Could Soon Cost $120 As Iran Crisis Threatens Broader U.S. Economy

ANN ARBOR - Americans may soon feel the economic impact of the escalating Iran conflict in one of the most familiar parts of daily life: the cost of an oil change. Industry analysts are warning that synthetic oil changes — already approaching $100 for many vehicles — could surge to $120 or more if tensions

By |2026-05-20T09:42:03-04:00May 20th, 2026|Auto Tech, ESD|

GM Cuts IT Jobs As Detroit Automaker Faces Mounting Cost Pressures, EV Transition, And AI Disruption

DETROIT -  Automotive News reported Monday that General Motors has eliminated additional information technology jobs as the automaker continues restructuring efforts aimed at lowering costs and accelerating its transition into a software-driven automotive company. The layoffs come as GM faces a difficult balancing act: funding billions of dollars in electric vehicle development, battery plants, software

By |2026-05-11T17:04:25-04:00May 11th, 2026|Auto Tech, Engineering Society of Detroit, ESD|

Could Chinese EVs Crush Detroit?

Part 1 or a two-part series on the Chinese auto threat to Michigan.  DETROIT - For generations, Detroit was the beating heart of American industrial power. In the decades following World War II, Michigan’s auto industry dominated not only the United States, but much of the global automobile market as well. During the 1950s and

Michigan’s White Collar Recession Has Started — And AI May Accelerate It

ANN ARBOR - For decades, white collar workers believed college degrees and office careers offered protection from the economic disruption that devastated factory towns across the Midwest. Automation was supposed to threaten assembly lines — not office cubicles. But economists, labor researchers and major national publications are increasingly warning that artificial intelligence could reshape professional

By |2026-05-06T17:13:51-04:00May 6th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Auto Tech, ESD, Featured, Industry 4.0|

GM’s $6 Billion Bet on Gas Engines Could Save Michigan Jobs as EV Demand Slows

DETROIT - General Motors is pouring more than $6 billion into U.S. manufacturing in just 12 months, a massive capital commitment that underscores a growing reality inside the auto industry: the transition to electric vehicles isn’t happening as fast as expected. The latest piece of that investment—about $830 million across key Midwest plants—is aimed squarely

By |2026-05-05T11:18:49-04:00May 5th, 2026|Auto Tech, Engineering Society of Detroit, ESD, Featured|

GM Just Flipped the Switch on AI in 4 Million Cars—And Drivers May Not Be Ready

DETROIT — General Motors is about to fundamentally change what it means to “talk to your car.” The Detroit automaker is rolling out Google Gemini — the same class of advanced artificial intelligence powering next-generation chatbots — directly into millions of vehicles through its OnStar system. The move instantly transforms roughly 4 million GM vehicles

By |2026-04-29T14:33:25-04:00April 29th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Auto Tech|

$166B Tariff Refund Wave Begins—Michigan Manufacturers, Auto Suppliers Could See Windfall

Freight trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, one of the busiest U.S.-Canada trade corridors. Michigan companies tied to global supply chains are among those affected by the $166 billion tariff refund program. PHOTO CREDIT: The Fulcrum  DETROIT  - Michigan manufacturers and auto suppliers could soon see a significant financial boost as the

By |2026-04-21T11:18:39-04:00April 21st, 2026|Auto Tech, Featured, Government/Politics, News|

Michigan’s Auto Industry Runs on Chinese Tech—And Washington Is Starting to Push Back

ANN ARBOR - From connected cars rolling off Detroit assembly lines to smart devices inside homes across the state, a significant portion of Michigan’s digital infrastructure relies on Chinese-made communication components—often without consumers or businesses realizing it. A new report highlighted by The Hill is raising alarms in Washington over the dominance of two Chinese

By |2026-04-16T18:37:37-04:00April 16th, 2026|Auto Tech, Cyber Defense|

Rising Gas Prices, NY Auto Show, March Auto Sales Update From Paul Eisenstein

ANN ARBOR - Long-Time auto journalist Paul Eisenstein joins MITech TV to update gasoline prices, what was hot at the New York Auto Show, March auto sales for the Detroit Three, and a new Substack projects with a group of his fellow auto writers. You can get all the details by watching this video interview

By |2026-04-15T11:27:41-04:00April 15th, 2026|Auto Tech, mitechtv|