MSU Mobility Hosts Autonomous Bus Naming Contest – Entries Accepted Through April 17

Thank you for your interest in entering Michigan State University’s autonomous bus naming contest. 

The contest will run in two phases. We are currently accepting entries for Phase 1.

  • Phase 1: From April 3-17, MSU students will be able to submit name suggestions via the embedded Google Form above.
  • Phase 2: After an MSU Mobility committee narrows down the list of entries to four potential names, the public will be able to vote for their favorite. Voting will open May 1 and close May 15.
  • A winner will be announced on May 21.

Rules & Naming Criteria

MSU Mobility is looking for name submissions that are: catchy, creative, futuristic and uniquely MSU. There is no purchase necessary to enter this contest.

Must be a current Michigan State University student to enter, with a valid msu.edu email address. Up to three entries allowed per person. All entries must be received by April 17, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited.

Beginning April 18, an MSU Mobility Committee will weigh the submissions against the outlined criteria, narrowing down the pool of candidates to four potential names. Public voting will then open from May 1-15 via MSU’s institutional and News handles on X and Instagram, with a winner being named on May 21.

Prizes

The winner will receive free use of a Spin scooter on MSU’s campus for one year and see the winning name featured prominently on the wrap of the bus.

About the new bus

  • It is a result of an MSU Mobility collaboration with ADASTEC, a leading software company specializing in automated driving software solutions, and Vicinity Motor Corp., a key producer of electric and clean-energy vehicles.
  • The electric autonomous bus will arrive on campus this spring with plans to take passengers in the fall, following a series of robust tests and certifications.
  • The new bus is 28-feet long, features 22 seats and is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards( FMVSS), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Buy America-compliant. Additionally, the accessible bus will feature an automatic ramp and a fully automatic wheelchair securement station. Advanced technology onboard includes six LiDAR, six radars, eight RGB cameras and a C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) unit.
  • The bus route will be announced at a later date.