The U.S. Auto Industry is a Leader in Research & Development

Automakers and their suppliers are the world’s third biggest investor in R&D. 

Designing and producing autos is a massive engineering challenge, which is why automakers and their suppliers invest approximately $130 billion in R&D each year – behind only pharmaceuticals and technology hardware.

 

 

American Automakers are Leaders in Research & Development and Innovation

In the U.S., automakers and their suppliers invested approximately $23 billion in 2018, representing approximately $1,333 of R&D for each car sold here that year, on average.

Over the past decade, automaker R&D has driven braking technology from anti-lock brakes (which help a driver brake faster) to electronic stability control (which keeps a vehicle moving safely when the driver has lost control), to automated emergency steering systems (which control braking, steering, and throttle functions)

Meanwhile, research into the use of new materials, better joining (welding, fasteners, adhesives), and fabrication could reduce a vehicle’s body weight by 10% to 20% from 2014 through 2020.

FCA, Ford, and General Motors each spend more per year than General Electric, Boeing, AT&T, and Tesla.

 

 

 

  • Better Cars for Short and Tall Drivers

    It is the Goldilocks syndrome for car buyers.

    In their search for a car that fits just right, tall drivers hope not to bonk their heads or bruise their knees. Short ones crane their necks for better sight lines and sometimes strain to comfortably reach the foot pedals.

    Evolving safety standards and sleek styling trends are exacerbating the challenges. So is the fact that more people are looking for smaller cars in search of better fuel economy.
     

  • Ford tests driverless car parking

    Ford is experimenting with two new gee-whiz technologies, one that allows a car to park itself without a driver inside and another that automatically turns the steering wheel to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

    The trials are going in Belgium and there are no plans to market either in the U.S. anytime soon, but both point to how automakers are gradually moving toward self-driving technology in cars.

  • Park your car from a distance? Ford tests driverless parking

    Ford is experimenting with two new gee-whiz technologies, one that allows a car to park itself without a driver inside and another that automatically turns the steering wheel to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

    The trials are going in Belgium and there are no plans to market either in the U.S. anytime soon, but both point to how automakers are gradually moving toward self-driving technology in cars.
     

  • Kettering University receives $110,000 from General Motors Foundation

    FLINT, MI -- Multiple Kettering University programs will gain more funding thanks to a $110,000 donation from the General Motors Foundation.

    Last month the foundation presented Kettering with the check at the Kettering Kickoff FIRST Robotics event. The funds will be distributed among several programs that support the GM Foundation Mission, including Kettering programs that promote diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, autonomous robot development, FIRST Robotics and development of plastics-capable engineers, among other programs. 

  • General Motors on track to sell self-driving car

    Slide behind the wheel and hit the gas on the Cadillac SRX test vehicle with "Super Cruise" and it feels like any other luxury SUV. However, when you hit 50 mph it feels different.

    At that point, you hit two buttons on the steering wheel to activate Super Cruise, you position the SRX in the lane and take your hands off the wheel. After that, Super Cruise takes over.