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.

 

 

 

  • Four Paths to Corvette’s Strength, Refinement and Quality

    BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – General Motors’ $131 million investment in technology at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, such as the first production use of a GM-patented process allowing aluminum to be spot welded to aluminum, is resulting in the strongest and most precisely built Corvette in its six-decade history.

    New technologies enable more accurate and efficiently produced subassemblies, such as the frame and the components attached to it. Enhanced, laser-based three-dimensional inspection systems verify overall assembly tolerances targeted to be 25 percent tighter than the previous-generation Corvette.

  • Ford Builds EcoBoost Race Car to Set Speed Record

    Ford Motor Co. plans to set a new speed record next week at Daytona International Speedway using a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine that is similar to EcoBoost power plants found under the hoods of some of its street vehicles.

    The planned Oct. 9 record attempt is part of a broad program at Ford to promote its turbocharged EcoBoost engines, which the car maker touts as delivering the unusual combination of relatively high horsepower and good fuel economy.
     

  • GM gets Army deal for fuel cell tech

    General Motors Co. said Monday it is has a new cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Warren to further test and develop hydrogen fuel cell for up to five years.

    The Detroit-based automaker said the company and TARDEC will test the performance and durability of hydrogen fuel-cell materials and designs before building them into full-size systems. The two parties said working together to test technology for both military and consumer applications will give them “more tangible” results than working independently.

     

     

  • General Motors (GM) Teaming Up With US Army To Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology After Announcing Similar Agreement With Honda Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is teaming up with the U.S. Army’s research and development center devoted to creating the next generation of ground systems, from the latest landmine-clearing armored vehicles to modern forward operating bases to this thing, billed as the world’s toughest hybrid:

    North America’s largest automaker announced Monday it has inked a new collaborative R&D agreement with Warren, Mich.-based TARDEC (the Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center) to test and develop hydrogen fuel cell technology for military and civilian use. The idea is that the two entities can pool resources and work more efficiently than each would by working independently.

  • GM and U.S. Army to Expand Fuel Cell Testing

    WARREN, Mich. – General Motors and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center are expanding their collaboration in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology.

    Through a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, GM and TARDEC will jointly test new hydrogen fuel cell-related materials and designs to evaluate their performance and durability before assembling them into full scale fuel cell propulsion systems.