76 teams of students from across the state will face off in the culmination of a year-long STEM-focused vehicle engineering program.
DETROIT, May 4, 2026 – More than 70 Michigan high school teams will descend upon Kettering University’s Mobility Research Center in a high-powered day of challenging autonomous, connected and electric vehicle competitions for the Square One Education Network’s 19th Innovative Vehicle Design (IVD) Competition.
This event is the culmination of a hands-on, year-long STEM program in which students have designed and built small-scale autonomous, connected and go-kart sized electric vehicles. The competitions test their vehicle’s performance and endurance, while incorporating real-world challenges, such as autonomous missions to parallel park and avoid obstacles, as the ultimate tests of their technical abilities.
Square One CEO Barb Land explains, “As we prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven industry, our IVD challenges offer a dynamic, complex, and highly relevant platform for developing advanced mobility solutions. The event’s continued success is a testament to our students’ engineering talent, the dedication of their teachers, and the strength of our program curriculum.”
Square One’s IVD Competition will host 76 student teams from schools across Michigan to apply the technical knowledge gained through its hands-on, year-long program to develop autonomous, connected and electric vehicles. After months of hard work, the students face off in one of three competitions focused on vehicle performance and endurance.
“MichAuto invests in Square One Education Network’s Innovative Vehicle Design program because we see the impactful role it has in building Michigan’s high-tech talent pipeline, a core priority for our organization,” said Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto and the Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer at the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Students are gaining real-world experiences and awareness of the diverse academic and career opportunities available to them right here in Michigan that will also help fill the critical need for talent in the automotive and manufacturing economy.”
The IVD Competition is one of Square One’s Signature Series Events, which aim to inspire K-12 students to pursue future careers in the industry. The students create their innovative vehicles using a fixed budget, basic parts, deadline and set of requirements. Each one must include autonomous, connected and/or electric technologies, which the students are evaluated on at the event and through live presentations judged by industry professionals.
“Washtenaw Community College is proud to invest in Square One Education Network because of the transformative opportunities it creates for students to engage in hands-on, real-world learning. As both a sponsoring partner and a board member, I’ve seen firsthand how Square One bridges education and industry, sparking curiosity, building critical skills, and expanding pathways into high-demand careers. This work not only strengthens individual student outcomes but also contributes meaningfully to the vitality of our regional workforce and economy,” says Brandon Roderick Tucker, Executive Vice President for Instruction, Washtenaw Community College.
To present the 2026 IVD Competition, Square One again partnered with several prominent industry organizations and educational partners including MichAuto, Washtenaw Community College, Kettering University, and Michigan Dept of Education. Other supporters include Automotive WSP, NASCAR, MiSTEM, MDOT, and NDIA. The Intelligent Transportation Systems of Michigan will award three $500 scholarships to students expressing interest in future mobility.
To learn more about the Innovative Vehicle Design Competition or Square One Education Network, visit http://squareonenetwork.org.