Whitmer opens XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit as autonomy industry shifts to production

By AI, Created 5:02 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – XPONENTIAL 2026 opened Monday in Detroit with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spotlighting the state’s role in defense manufacturing, drone production and autonomous systems. The sold-out event at Huntington Place runs May 11-14 and is aimed at moving the industry from concepts to deployment.

Why it matters: - Detroit is hosting a major global gathering for robotics, drones and autonomous systems at a moment when the industry is moving from prototypes to scaled production. - Michigan is using the event to position itself as a hub for defense manufacturing, maritime autonomy and next-generation mobility. - The sold-out show floor and expanded defense programming signal strong commercial and policy interest in autonomy across air, ground and maritime use cases.

What happened: - XPONENTIAL 2026 opened Monday evening at Huntington Place in Detroit. - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the opening keynote and focused on the state’s role in the U.S. defense industrial base, drone technology and workforce development. - The event launched with Keynight, an evening keynote program and reception that brought together leaders from government, defense, industry and academia. - AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins closed the evening and formally kicked off the reception.

The details: - Whitmer highlighted Michigan’s manufacturing base and its growing role in national security innovation. - Whitmer pointed to efforts to expand drone production, support dual-use technology development and align workforce training with defense needs. - Whitmer cited the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative, or M3, as part of the state’s push to become a hub for maritime autonomy and advanced shipbuilding. - Whitmer also referenced investments in advanced mobility and critical infrastructure. - Whitmer said Michigan has created good-paying jobs, won a new fighter mission for Selfridge and trained workers to build ships, drones, submarines and other systems. - The evening also featured “Forged in Detroit: Industry, Innovation, and Resilience,” a fireside chat with Arthur Herman and Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. - The discussion connected Detroit’s industrial history, World War II mobilization and today’s autonomy shift, with an emphasis on supply chains, manufacturing capacity and industrial policy. - The sold-out XPONENTIAL show floor opened Tuesday and features technologies across air, ground and maritime domains in commercial, civil and defense markets. - The conference program includes keynote sessions and panels on scaling autonomy, strengthening supply chains and shaping policy and regulation. - Tuesday’s keynotes include Robbins on the industry mission, Cadenazzi on the industrial base, Federal Aviation Administration leaders on drones and advanced air mobility, and a fireside chat with Manna Air Delivery founder Bobby Healy and Tulsa Innovation Lab Executive Director Jennifer Hankins.

Between the lines: - The event’s tone suggests the autonomy sector is focusing less on future promise and more on deployment, manufacturing scale and regulatory integration. - Michigan’s visible role underscores how states are competing to capture jobs, investment and defense-related production tied to autonomy. - The co-location with the Michigan Defense Expo and the inclusion of government roundtables and international forums point to a broader push for policy alignment and market access.

What’s next: - Attendees will continue through a week of defense-focused programming, end-user workshops and government roundtables under Chatham House Rule. - The event runs May 11-14. - Organizers expect XPONENTIAL 2026 to generate economic and innovation impact for the Detroit region.

The bottom line: - XPONENTIAL 2026 is presenting autonomy as a manufacturing and deployment story now, not just a concept for the future. - The full event also includes the official show page.