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These Companies are Leading Detroit's Mobility Renaissance

Detroit announces finalists for $3 million global challenge to innovate Eastern Market. These finalists aim to advance clean freight solutions and reduce fossil fuel reliance in Detroit's historic food distribution hub.

These Companies are Leading Detroit's Mobility Renaissance
Detroit's Mayor Mike Duggan speaking at the event on Friday morning in Eastern Market

DETROIT (June 21, 2025) - Yesterday the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), alongside Detroit's Mayor Mike Duggan, announced four finalist companies for a $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge, a program focused on transforming urban freight movement in Detroit's Eastern Market. This is huge for the city.

​"We are tremendously grateful to the Toyota Mobility Foundation for selecting Detroit and its culture of innovation as the only recipient in the United States to be a part of its Sustainable Cities Challenge. Eastern Market moves the food Detroiters need every day. Thanks to the Foundation, Detroit can help to pioneer solutions to lessen the environmental impact of this important commerce.”​​ - Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
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Finalists will ​receive​ 130k implementation funding to ​pilot their solutions in Eastern Market, with the potential for citywide impact​​.

A panel of five judges, bringing together expertise in freight, mobility, and sustainability alongside deep knowledge of local business and community needs, selected the finalists.

The Finalist Companies

  • Civilized Cycles – Civilized Cycles is a Detroit-based design and engineering company that manufactures light electric vehicles (semi-trikes) for urban freight and cargo delivery. The team’s solutions seek to use semi-trikes to replace gas-powered options in city environments, offering sustainable and efficient mobility solutions. 
  • ElectricFish Energy Inc – ElectricFish is a climate-tech company developing distributed energy infrastructure that combines battery storage with DC fast-charging capabilities for electric vehicles. The team’s solution aims to leverage this infrastructure to build systems designed to reduce strain on the grid, lower energy costs, and provide backup power during outages. 
  • Neology – Neology is a Swiss clean technology startup aiming to develop systems that produce hydrogen and electricity on demand. These energy solutions are adaptable for use in construction, urban environments, remote sites, and other areas where clean, off-grid power is needed. 
  • Orange Sparkle Ball Inc – Orange Sparkle Ball is an innovation accelerator that collaborates with organizations to scale impact-driven solutions. The team is developing a data-powered micrologistics platform which aims to streamline first- and last-mile freight delivery and enhance local logistics efficiency. 

What This Means for Detroit

Being a part of program is big for Detroit, because the city was selected from over a hundred initial applicants to host the challenge. In November 2023, ten cities were on the shortlist to make the program, and by May 2024, three cities were selected. Those are Detroit, Varanasi (India), and Venice (Italy). All of these cities presumably represent a different type of environment that are important to innovate within going forward.

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Detroit has the established players in the automotive industry, but it's also important to foster new growth. Programs like The Sustainable Cities Challenge from the Toyota Mobility Foundation help.

So Detroit was selected, and now we have our finalist companies that are all aiming to build the best sustainable solutions and acquire more funding. In 2026, final implementation funding will be given to winners in each host city to continue to grow their solutions.

"Over the last 100 years, businesses in Eastern Market have innovated around food logistics, distribution, and production. Working with growers, businesses, and other stakeholders across southeast Michigan and beyond, we are shaping the next 100 years right here in Detroit." - Katy Trudeau, President and CEO of Eastern Market
"Detroit is growing. By the end of 2025, Detroit’s new bridge to Canada will increase freight traffic through our city, now is the time to discover how to move more goods around more people with less pollution." - Tim Slusser, the City's Chief of Mobility

About the Toyota Mobility Foundation   

The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) was established in August 2014 by the Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) to support the development of a more mobile society in which everyone can move freely. The Foundation underscores Toyota’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and respect for people. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise and technologies to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. TMF works in partnership with universities, governments, non-profits, research institutions and other organizations, creating programs that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address mobility issues around the world.   

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