Automotive : Innovation & Job News

Arotech is growing its staff and footprint in Ann Arbor, doubling its commercial space with another 40,000 square feet and hiring 40 people over the last year.

That growth is coming from the Ann Arbor-based defense firm's training and simulation division. That division, which employs 168 people, has watched its revenue jump 39 percent last year and expects another healthy year in 2013.

Spearheading that growth are a couple of large contracts with the U.S. military. The largest is providing a simulation suite to the U.S. Army that helps soldiers train to find and disarm improvised explosive devices, commonly known as IEDs. The suite helps teach soldiers how to use equipment that finds and disarms IEDs, along with the vehicles that protect the disarming operation.

"We're in the process of delivering our 15th suite out of 28," says Kurt Flosky, executive vice president of Arotech's training and simulation division. "We're delivering one per month."

Arotech's training and simulation division has also enjoyed more business from the law enforcement and homeland security sectors. It has a contract with the U.S. Airforce to provide simulation technology to train soldiers how to operate mid-flight refueling booms and several contracts with municipal law enforcement agencies for training and use-of-force simulation.

Source: Kurt Flosky, executive vice president of Arotech
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Carcode.me is one of those start-ups that hits its stride after it has evolved a little.

The Ann Arbor-based start-up that calls the Tech Brewery home cut its teeth providing QR code technology to automotive dealerships. The idea was that providing QR codes would allow shoppers to access key info about the vehicles on the lot, such as make and model, while the dealership was closed.

"We found that the sales staff was using it to pull up information get it to the customer," says Nick Gorton, co-founder & CEO of Carcode.me.

"We realized our target market wasn't the customer but the sales people who can use it as a tool," says Steve Schwartz, co-founder & CTO of Carcode.me.

The 2-year-old start-up now has its technology in 150 automotive dealerships across 13 states, which pay for it on the software as a service model. That growth has allowed the company to add one new team member (a software developer), expanding its team to three people. The company is also looking at raising a seed capital round to fund a marketing campaign later this year.

Source: Steve Schwartz, co-founder & CTO of Carcode.me and Nick Gorton, co-founder & CEO of Carcode.me
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

A couple of tech entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor have teamed up to create Spork, a mobile app start-up who's first offering is starting to gain traction.

Spork release LeaseCrunch about a year ago with little fanfare and even less marketing. The mileage-monitoring app for leased cars has enjoyed a slowly growing following since. It has about 400 users and is still being actively bought in the iTunes store. Jordan Brown and Ross Johnson, Eastern Michigan University grads and Spork's co-founders, plan to ramp up the visibility through viral marketing this year.

"It has done a lot better than I expected without advertising," Brown says. "People are just sort of stumbling upon it."

LeaseCrunch helps drivers keep track of their leased vehicle's mileage to prevent overage charges. Through a few simple setup questions and periodic odometer mileage updates, the application calculates where the user stands in the life of their lease and projects where they will be when it's time to turn the vehicle in.

"I wanted something with a graphical representation and projections instead of just a do-it-yourself spreadsheet thing," Brown says.

Source: Jordan Brown, co-founder of Spork
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Coherix is growing sales and staff, and is currently eyeing an even bigger payday in the near future.

The 8-year-old Ann Arbor-based tech start-up has hired 20 people over the last year and is looking to add another 10 employees in software programing and sales. Its staff currently stands at 43 employees and three interns after the firm doubled its sales over the last year.

"We're on a path to double our revenue growth over the next year," says Dwight Carlson, chairman & CEO of Coherix. "We're looking at an initial public offering in 2014."

Coherix creates high-speed, high-definition 3D visualization and inspection software designed to improve the management of manufacturing processes. Its high-tech optical-based measurement and inspection products help find efficiencies in the automotive and semiconductor industries.

The company originally set up shop in southeast Michigan because of the region's high concentration of manufacturing. Today with the global shift in manufacturing eastward, about 70 percent of Coherix's customers are in Asia, and that's with the boost in manufacturing in Michigan thanks to the rebounding automotive industry.

"Coherix China will be the biggest Coherix operation in five years," Carlson says.

Source: Dwight Carlson, chairman & CEO of Coherix
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

New Eagle continues it growth streak in Ann Arbor thanks to new partnerships with other automotive firms.

New Eagle recently became a new distributor and integrator for Remy and has been capitalizing on a partnership with General Motors. New Eagle's technology specializes in making hybrid and electric drive vehicles run smoother and more sustainably. That has allowed the company to grow its revenue and add to its staff.

"We have been growing for the last four years," says Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle.

New Eagle creates electronic control modules (think of the computer systems that help make your car run) for hybrids and their supporting engineering services. It is continuing to grow sales of its core products and expand into specialty parts. It's parts can be used in everything from heavy trucks, hybrids and electric vehicles.

The company recently applied for seed capital from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. It hopes to use that cash to leverage more growth here.

"We need that capital to continue our expansion in Michigan," says Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle.

Source: Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Blue Newt Software is working to change simulation and education technologies by combining the two through gamification.

The downtown Ann Arbor-based start-up is creating simulation technology for training and engineering. Its twist is that it gamifies the technology so that it's more engaging to users and makes a longer-lasting impact. So far, this approach has attracted some big name customers, including Mercedes Benz and Ford.

"We feel we have the tools to change the game technologically," says Bob Kuehne, president & founder of Blue Newt Software.

The 1-year-old company got its start from a graphics consultancy Kuehne ran in the 2000s. He had the idea for what is now Blue Newt Software and went for broke when he floated the idea to Mercedes Benz.

"We made a bold pitch to them to buy something that didn't exist," Kuehne says. "That became the main part in one of our two core products."

Blue Newt Software employs four people and eight independent contractors, along with the occasional intern. Kuehne expects those numbers to grow as his business continues to expand. He foresees his company doubling in size in each year for the next four years.

Source: Bob Kuehne, president & founder of Blue Newt Software
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Current Motor Co. plans to sell its electric motorcycles all across the Western Hemisphere this year, with plans to open showrooms in Chicago and Brazil this summer.

The company launched in 2010 as the amibtion of local environmentalists and tinkerers John Harding and Erik Kauppi. The Ann Arbor-based start-up received venture capital investment from BELLE Capital last year, allowing it to mass market its electric motorcycles.

Current Motor Co. plans to open its first U.S. showroom and service center in Chicago by Labor Day. It is also in the process of beginning sales in Brazil this week, taking on the third largest market for motorcycles in the world. Brazil only trails China and India, respectively, for motorcycle sales.

 "We are looking at becoming a significant player in the electric motorcycle market," says Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co.

Flanagan and her team of 16 employees and three interns have been laying the groundwork for this launch for more than a year, signing partnerships with manufacturers and other key support firms. She says her firm, which has hired five people in the last year, is ready to meet the expected rush of consumer demand.

"We have more scale than anyone in the industry," Flanagan says. "It's why we're launching early in Brazil."

Source: Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co.
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Almost everything about Carcode.me is virtual. The start-ups QR code technology allows auto buyers to shop virtually. The company is run virtually from laptops in both Ann Arbor and Seattle.

The 1-year-old firm's technology is real. It puts QR codes on cars at automotive dealerships. Potential customers can scan these codes with their smart phones and get not only the brand of car (make, model, year) but a detailed history of the car itself (mileage, VIN, car facts report).

"This is great for people in Michigan who like to walk onto the dealer lot on a Sunday, when the dealership is closed," says Nick Gorton, co-founder of Carcode.me. Gorton is a Michigan native who now lives in Seattle. The start-up's other co-founder is based in Ann Arbor's Tech Brewery.

Carcode.me's team of four people works with more than 100 car dealerships across the country. Gorton and his team are working on perfecting the technology before broadening its customer base.

"We are a customer-oriented technology," Gorton says. "We're really concerned with having the right product before we really scale it."

Source: Nick Gorton, co-founder of Carcode.me
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The Toyota Technical Center campuses in Ann Arbor and Saline expect to hire 150 engineers and technicians this year and another 100 people on top of that over the next five years.

"We're aggressively hiring now," says Bruce Brownlee, senior executive administrator for the Toyota Technical Center. "Hopefully we will have these positions filled within the next 12 months.

The Toyota Technical Center specializes in engineering, design and vehicle evaluation for a range of Toyota's vehicles, including the Avalon, Camry, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and RAV4 EV. The tech center's two campuses employ 1,100 people and between 30-70 interns who do everything from building prototypes to advanced research.

Many of these new jobs will be fore automotive, mechanical and electrical engineers that will focus on powertrain system development. A number of these new hires will also be of advanced research scientists who will work on a number of things, ranging from environmental compliance to engine and transmission development.

For information on these job opportunities, click here.

Source: Bruce Brownlee, senior executive administrator for the Toyota Technical Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

In a previous life, Andrew Ramirez was an auto mechanic ...one who saw an unmet need in the market. That led to the creation of Andrew Ramirez the entrepreneur and his start-up, My Repair Facts.

The downtown Ann Arbor-based firm is developing a comprehensive report on a vehicle's repairs and maintenance. The difference between My Repair Facts and other more well-known companies like CARFAX is all in the details.

"It doesn't have a consumer's touch to it," says Ramirez, CEO & founder of My Repair Facts. "If they went the extra mile to take care of their car, that data just isn't available."

My Repair Facts will tell its customers not only what major work has been done and if the automobile was in an accident. It also includes whether the owner has been detailing the vehicle or using premium components for routine maintenance, like oil changes. "It lets you say your car is worth more than the Kelly Blue Book value because you put all the extra money into it," Ramirez says.

The 1-year-old company has grown from just Ramirez to a team of six employees and an intern. Ramirez hopes to keep expanding his team as his business grows. My Repair Facts recently received a loan from the Michigan Microloan Fund, which Ramirez plans to leverage to expand his customer base. Within a year, he would like to be selling 1,500 reports a month to 10-15 car dealerships. He is also aiming to hit 150 new registered users per month.

Source: Andrew Ramirez, CEO & founder of My Repair Facts
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Beta is a word commonly used with Internet start-ups, but it's a word that's en vogue with one automotive start-up, Current Motor Co.

The Ann Arbor-based firm finished testing its pilot electric scooters earlier this year and is now in the final stages of developing its Beta bike. The three-year-old start-up hopes to begin mass producing the scooters later this year and with an eye for a market break-out in 2012. The company also plans to announce some key partnerships that will boost sales and production in the coming weeks.

"We have made major strides this year," says Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co.

Current Motor Co., started by local environmentalists and tinkerers John Harding and Erik Kauppi, received a fresh round of funding earlier this year from BELLE Capital. It expects to finish raising that round of seed capital later this year and use it to enable mass production. Flanagan expects her company to flirt with profitability within the 12 months.

"We expect rapid growth next year," Flanagan says.

Source: Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co.
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The Quantum, the latest version of the University of Michigan's solar car, is wrapping up its race across Michigan's lower peninsula today as it prepares for its annual world championship race this fall.

The four-day mock race covered 1,000 miles from numerous corners of the lower peninsula, including southeast Michigan. It made stops in St. Joseph, Ludington, Traverse City, Mackinaw City and Tawas City. The team is posting updates of its progress here and here. The mock race is serving as preparation for the October World Solar Challenge in Australia.

"The average speeds (40-50 mph) will be a little bit less than Australia," says Rachel Kramer, project manager for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team.

The student-led team behind Quantum is also using this mock race as a way to show off its newest version of solar-powered automobiles to hundreds of supporters, most of which are automotive-based companies in Michigan.

"We get a lot of support from Michigan-based businesses," says Kramer, a senior studying neuroscience at U-M. "Being close to Detroit helps because half of our partners are in the automotive sector."

Source: Rachel Kramer, project manager for the University of Michigan Solar Car Team
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Toyota is spending $50 million to establish a new Collaborative Safety Research Center in Ann Arbor, partnering with several prominent hospitals and universities, including the University of Michigan.

The new safety R&D center will be based in the Toyota Technical Center, where researchers from North America and Japan will work over the next five years.

"The vast majority of the $50 million will go to our research partners," says Chuck Gulash, senior executive engineer with the Toyota Technical Center. "It will support their principal investigators, researchers, and post-docs."

Toyota will work with U-M's Transportation Research Institute on a multidisciplinary project to assess the potential benefits of advanced safety systems in a systematic way, combining their expertise in driver behavior, crash data analysis, and driver modeling. The automaker is also working with Virginia Tech and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, among other institutions.

Toyota employs 1,179 people between its two tech centers in the Ann Arbor area. Although this new investment won't require more hiring at those centers, the company has a number of engineering and research job openings at both centers. For more information on those, click here.

Source: Chuck Gulash, senior executive engineer with the Toyota Technical Center
Writer: Jon Zemke


Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.