#196 – Edwin Olson | May Mobility – The Capital-Efficient Path to Ending Personal Car Ownership `

Building Better with Brandon Bartneck

Edwin Olson is founder and CEO of May Mobility. He joins the Future of Mobility podcast for a Round 2 topic, centered around May Mobility’s strategy for growth and impact in the autonomous vehicle space. We also explore how Edwin and May Mobility have evolved since the Round 1 discussion in early 2020.

Takeaways

• May Mobility aims to end personal car ownership by making public transit a more attractive and efficient option.
• The right vehicle for the right population density is crucial in providing effective autonomous transportation.
• Long-term contracts with cities provide a strong revenue stream and help finance the vehicles.
• Balancing realism and vision is important in leadership, acknowledging challenges while working towards a grand vision.
• Building a positive company culture is essential for success in the autonomous vehicle industry. Effective communication is crucial for success in personal and professional relationships.
• Building trust and rapport is essential for effective communication.
• Active listening and empathy play a significant role in understanding others and fostering meaningful connections.
• Non-verbal communication, such as body language and facial expressions, can convey important messages.
• Identifying and overcoming communication barriers is key to effective communication.

Chapters

• Introduction and Evolution of May Mobility
• The Goal: Ending Personal Car Ownership
• Challenges of Personal Car Ownership
• The Vision of Autonomous Vehicles
• Key Assumptions for Autonomous Vehicles in Public Transit
• The Right Vehicle for the Right Population Density
• Carving Out the Right Solution for the Technology's Capabilities
• The Advantage of Long-Term Contracts with Cities
• Choosing the Right Growth Strategy
• Balancing Realism and Vision in Leadership
• Scaling Challenges and Vehicle Supply
• Leadership Lessons in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry
• Building a Positive Company Culture
• The Importance of Effective Communication
• Building Trust and Rapport
• Active Listening and Empathy
• Conclusion

Links:

• Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/edwinolson2
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwin-olson/
• https://maymobility.com/

Bio:

Edwin Olson is co-founder and CEO of May Mobility, Inc. He has focused on the development of autonomous vehicles for more than two decades, co-leading autonomous vehicle development at Toyota Research Institute and helping to develop Ford Motor Company’s autonomous vehicles. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT and is a professor of computer science at the University of Michigan. Olson got his start in autonomous technology participating in the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007 as part of the MIT team. He was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Leaders in Energy in 2023.

Company description:

May Mobility develops autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and deploys fleets of vehicles to municipal and business customers. Its proprietary Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) system is at the core of its mission to help make cities safer, greener and more accessible. MPDM's proven track record has delivered more than 350,000 autonomy-enabled rides to date in several public transit applications across the U.S. and Japan. With key strategic partnerships including some of the world's most innovative automotive and transportation companies, such as Toyota Motor Corporation and NTT, May Mobility aims to achieve the highest standard in rider safety, sustainability and transportation equity.

Future of Mobility:

The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.

Edison Manufacturing and Engineering:

Edison is your low volume contract manufacturing partner, focused on assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don’t neatly fit within traditional high-volume production methods.