LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A new law that will allow companies totest driverless cars on Michigan roads
will be a boost for the state’sauto industry, according to Gov. Rick Snyder and the sponsor of
thelegislation.Snyder signed the bills Friday, saying thelegislation, which requires a person to be in the
driverless vehicle totake the wheel if necessary, was needed to keep Michigan in the lead invehicle research
and design."Michigan is the automotive capitalof the world," he said in a statement. "By
allowing the testing ofautomated, driverless cars today, we will stay at the forefront inautomotive
technological advances that will make driving safer and moreefficient in the future."Snyder’s office
said that Michiganbusinesses and universities in Michigan "are leading the way in manyintelligent,
connected vehicle programs aimed at driverless cars. Thislegislation … is key to the future of research
and development ofautomotive technology in the state."Both bills were sponsored bystate Sen. Mike
Kowall, R-White Lake. He told The Detroit News that thelaws could help retain research business in
Michigan.ContinentalCorp. had considered moving some autonomous vehicle testing to Nevada,Kowall said. The
company has facilities in Auburn Hills and the SaultSte. Marie area.California and Florida also allow such
tests.InNovember, the University of Michigan announced a collaboration withgovernment and business to
makeAnn Arbor the first American city with ashared fleet of networked, driverless vehicles by
2021.Researchersare conducting a street-level connected vehicle experiment calledSafety Pilot that involves
3,000 area residents in networked vehicles.In October, the university’s regents approved a $6.5 million,
30-acre driverless car test site near the school’s North Campus.___Online:Video and details of Ann Arbor
project: http://bit.ly/1bjbrW7Copyright 2013 The
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