Area Development
Automated driving software company ADASTEC plans to locate its U.S. headquarters at the SPARK Central Innovation Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“We believe that Michigan is one of the best locations to be for mobility and automotive industry,” said ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker. “There are excellent opportunities in Michigan as economic development corporations, associations, and chambers. Michiganders greet us warmly at all times and have always supported us without any expectations. We are happy to be in Ann Arbor and to take our place in the heart of the automotive industry innovations.”

ADASTEC has developed flowride.ai, a SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform for commercial vehicles. The company has deployed a test of its technology on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing, made possible through a collaboration with the state of Michigan and bus manufacturer Karsan. MSU said it will officially deploy the bus after completing intense on-campus testing and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration validation of the bus, route and infrastructure.

“Having a permanent headquarter location here in the Ann Arbor region is a benefit to ADASTEC because of its proximity to U-M and MSU,” explained Ann Arbor SPARK’s director of mobility programs, Komal Doshi. “The company’s future growth is dependent on access to business development opportunities and finding talent, so there’s no better place than Ann Arbor for it to grow its roots. What’s particularly exciting for our ecosystem here is that ADASTEC joins a growing list of foreign companies that recognize the assets this region offers and want to be part of it all.”

Ann Arbor SPARK and its partners at the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) have also connected ADASTEC to University of Michigan’s Mcity Tech Lab Program where a four-member student team will be working with them to create a sensor fusion architecture for enhanced perception in adverse weather conditions. Their work will also incorporate new and existing multiple sensors designed to improve safety and the overall capabilities of the autonomous bus in all environments.