Motor City mechatronics | TechCrunch

A TechCrunch writer reflects on Detroit after visiting the city for the first time during the Automate trade show. The author acknowledges that as someone who has only spent three days there, they do not feel qualified to offer much insight, but several observations are made. One of these is the fiercely loyal attitude of Detroiters towards their hometown, while also acknowledging decades of struggle. Detroit is an industry town whose destiny has been shaped by manufacturing. The big three (Ford, GM, and Chrysler) dominate, but the ghost of the industry that once thrived in the city still haunts the area. Detroit was more motivated to embrace freeways over public transit, creating disparities that widened the gulf between the rich and poor. Abandoned buildings also serve as monuments to the city’s population decline. Despite this, the author recognizes several signs of a return to prosperity in Detroit, including revitalization and cheap rent, a thriving music and art scene, and talk of the return of manufacturing to the city, which Detroit’s infrastructure could readily support. Several initiatives are put in place, and some hardware startups are pushing to bring assembly and manufacturing closer to home. The author also highlights Detroit’s growing startup community, which includes companies like StockX and RoboTire and is fostered by the continued presence of the automotive industry. The Automate trade show is located in Detroit for this very reason.



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