North American Policy Summit
at CAR MBS
Competing Together: Policy, Trade, and the Future of the North American Automotive System
Monday, June 15, 2026
Center for Automotive Research
880 Technology Drive, Suite C
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734.662.1287
One System. One Critical Moment.
The North American automotive industry operates as a single, deeply integrated system—spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Vehicles, components, and materials cross borders multiple times before final assembly.
As the 2026 review of USMCA approaches, policy decisions across all three countries will shape the future of this system—and its ability to compete globally.
At the same time, global competitors are advancing with speed, scale, and coordination.
The question is no longer whether the system is integrated, but how effectively it can compete.
A Strategic Working Session
Hosted by the independent, nonprofit, Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the Policy Summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers for a data-driven, nonpartisan working session.
This is not a political forum.
It is an opportunity to understand how policy decisions intersect with manufacturing, investment, and global competition.
What We’ll Examine
- How the North American automotive system actually functions across borders
- The role of USMCA and trade policy in shaping supply chains and investment
- Where policy is creating alignment—or friction—across the region
- The impact of global competition on North American strategy
- How electrification and workforce transformation are reshaping the industry
Summit Goal:
Create alignment around the realities and risks of the integrated North American automotive system at a critical policy moment (USMCA).
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Place: Marriott Eagle Crest Resort (Morning) and American Center for Mobility (Afternoon) | Ypsilanti, MI
Summit Program
9:00–11:30 AM | Policymaker Breakfast
- 9:00AM – Welcome Remarks
- 9:10AM – CAR Research Briefing: The North American Automotive System (30 mins)
A policy-focused briefing from CAR researchers on the structural realities shaping the industry.
The Investment Map
Book of Deals/Outlook: Where automakers and suppliers are investing across North America and what it signals about the future footprint of the industry.
The Manufacturing Network
Insights from CAR’s manufacturing plant and supplier research show how production, parts sourcing, and logistics flow across U.S., Canadian, and Mexican facilities.
The Workforce Transition
How electrification, advanced manufacturing, and software-defined vehicles are reshaping workforce needs across the region.
- 9:45AM – Operating Across North America (An Industry Perspective)
How companies actually design supply chains across the three countries and what policymakers often misunderstand about the system.
- 10:00AM – Investment & Competitiveness (An Industry Perspective)
How global competition, electrification investment, and regulatory uncertainty are shaping where companies place their next facilities.
- 10:20AM – U.S. Industrial Strategy
How policy decisions around trade, energy, infrastructure, and workforce influence North America’s automotive competitiveness.
- 10:40AM – Canadian Viewpoint & Strategy
How Canada is positioning itself within the North American automotive ecosystem, including minerals, energy, and manufacturing.
- 11:00AM – Discussion: North America’s Competitive Future – “Competing Together: The Future of the North American Automotive System”
Policy Meets Product
- 1:00–4:30 PM | ACM Experience
At the American Center for Mobility, policymakers will experience the innovations and technologies shaping future regulatory decisions.
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- Ride-and-drive demonstrations
- ADAS and automated driving systems
- EV and next-generation vehicle technologies
- Safety innovation showcases
This hands-on experience connects policy frameworks with real-world engineering realities.
- 4:30PM – Networking Reception
