Moving Forward: Key Takeaways from Move America 2025

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Moving Forward: Key Takeaways from Move America 2025

October 2, 2025

After nearly 25 years in automotive, transportation, and mobility communications, you'd think the novelty would wear off. Yet, walking the floors and sitting in the sessions at Move America at Huntington Place in Detroit on Sept. 24-25, I felt that familiar spark of excitement. The buzz wasn't just about futuristic concepts anymore; it was about deployment, scale, and the tangible maturation of an industry in transformation.

The conversations have shifted from "what if" to "how to." We're moving past the initial hype cycle and into the hard work of building a new mobility ecosystem. It's a landscape that requires deep collaboration between public and private sectors-and it was great to see startups, mature businesses, and local and state governments sharing both the stage and a unified vision. This collaboration provides a clear roadmap for catalyzing the very trends that dominated the discussion at Move America.

There was a wide range of topics covered, but for me, here are three trends that stood out, and the innovators pushing them from concept to reality.

1. AI Becomes an Active Partner in Mobility

The most significant shift in conversation this year was around Agentic AI-intelligent systems that act as proactive agents for the driver and vehicle. This goes far beyond voice commands. We're talking about AI that understands context, anticipates needs, and takes action. Twenty years ago, I worked with OnStar by GM, where operators served as human agents. Today, the vehicle itself is becoming an intelligent partner that can manage its own health, enhance safety, and create a truly personalized in-car experience.

Organizations to Watch:

• Dimo:This innovative platform is building a decentralized network that allows a vehicle to have its own digital identity and AI agent. Imagine a car that automatically schedules its own oil changes, negotiates better insurance rates based on its driving data, or pays for its own charging.
• DHL:A logistics giant, DHL is leveraging AI to create incredible safety nets for its drivers. Their AI systems analyze telematics data to predict and prevent accidents, monitor driver fatigue, and optimize routes in real-time to avoid hazardous conditions. One DHL executive even talked about AI's ability to exonerate drivers from false claims by providing real-time incident data.
• Mercedes-Benz:While every automaker is using AI and can't provide specifics due to privacy laws, I thought it was a fun fact that Mercedes-Benz has noticed drivers using AI for relationship advice and general conversation during their drive time.

2. Autonomy Gets to Work

The dream of a robotaxi in every driveway is still on the horizon, but the industry's focus has become far more pragmatic and targeted. The real momentum is in deploying autonomous technology where it can provide immediate value: in the commercial and public transportation sectors. These applications solve real-world problems like driver shortages and logistical inefficiencies, providing a clear and faster path to profitability and scale.

Companies to Watch:

• International Trucks:A major player in the commercial vehicle space, International is heavily invested in developing autonomous trucks for long-haul routes. Their approach focuses on creating a "driver-in-the-loop" system that dramatically improves safety and fuel efficiency on the highway.
• Pratt Miller:Based in New Hudson, Michigan, Pratt Miller is a powerhouse in applying autonomous technology to the most demanding environments. While known for their motorsports dominance, their expertise in robotics and unmanned ground vehicles was on display in a variety of configurations, including an autonomous garage bot that could be coming to an HOA near you.
• May Mobility:Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May Mobility is a leader in the real-world deployment of autonomous shuttle services and shared the stage with their partners at Lyft. Their focus on accessible, equitable transportation in cities and campuses perfectly embodies the industry's pragmatic shift toward impactful, real-world applications.

3. Hydrogen's Moment is Arriving

While electrification has dominated headlines, a powerful parallel conversation around hydrogen fuel cells is gaining serious momentum, particularly for heavy-duty trucking and fleet operations. The appeal is clear: long-range capability, fast refueling times, and the ability to power heavy payloads without massive, heavy batteries. The challenge has always been infrastructure, but key players are now making tangible moves to build out the ecosystem.

Organizations to Watch:

• Pilot Company:One of the largest operators of travel centers in North America and a FINN Partners client, Pilot is targeting 2027 to have two hydrogen fueling centers open in California. This is a critical first step in making hydrogen a viable option for long-haul freight.
• City of Detroit:Detroit's Office of Mobility Innovation is actively working to establish the city as a major hydrogen hub. This public-sector leadership, as part of Detroit's Hydrogen Future, is crucial for creating the infrastructure and policy framework needed for widespread adoption.
• University of Michigan:At the foundational level, U-M's world-class researchers are tackling key challenges in hydrogen production, storage, and efficiency. They will continue the conversation around hydrogen at the Hydrogen Engine Alliance's fall conference in Ann Arbor on Oct. 13-14.

The road from Move America leads to a future defined by these trends. Building it requires not just groundbreaking technology, but the kind of public-private partnership that innovators from across Michigan, the United States, and the world brought to Move America. The future isn't just coming; it's being built, one innovation at a time.

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POSTED BY: Andy Schueneman