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.

 

 

 

  • GM concept hints at Cadillac's future

    General Motors Co.’s Cadillac brand Thursday showed off a new Cadillac grand coupe concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel, Calif., cues of which could come in a new “top of the range” car Cadillac is developing.

    The Elmiraj Concept, named for El Mirage Lake in the California desert known for its high-speed time trials and inspired by the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado, and can seat four. Cadillac says the rear-wheel drive Elmiraj is its next evolution after the luxury brand showed its touring Ciel Concept, a four-door, four seat convertible, at Pebble Beach two years ago.

    “This project originated around the simple persona of ‘the drive,’ or the visceral experience of driving a great luxury coupe,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac’s executive director of advanced design, in a statement. “It’s an expression of the confidence and poise you feel driving a high-performance car, which we feel is an essential element of top-level luxury.”

     

     

  • GM Advanced Design Director Envisions Vehicles Beyond 2020: Video

    Being ahead of the curve is a huge priority in an industry that moves so very quickly. GM’s Director of Advanced Design, Frank Saucedo briefly discusses what he and his team do, and how it affects the future of GM’s brands like Chevy and Cadillac, and the rest of the car market. Looking forward and planning ahead past the year 2020 are what will help determine what buyers want, and how to ultimately capture market share. Strategically, the GM Advanced Design Studio is located in trendsetting Hollywood, California, so Michigan-based GM designers can study the adaptive culture and see things from a different design perspective.

     

  • Ford Expands Inflatable Seatbelt Availability

    The safety features war is on: Honda may be the first automaker to make backup cameras standard across most of its lineup, but Ford is focusing on backseat safety. The automaker is expanding the availability of its rear-seat inflatable seatbelts.

    The industry-first safety feature, which debuted on the 2011 Explorer, combines a shoulder seatbelt and a tubular-shaped airbag that inflates in a crash. Ford announced today that the seatbelts will be available on the Fusion, Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi sedans for 2014.

  • Video Game Technology for the Ford Mustang

    If you’ve ever played a video game, you know that the controller is an invaluable tool, capable of sending physical feedback, like a vibration, without you having to take your eyes off the screen.

    What if that kind of technology moved to cars? Imagine if the controller – in this case, the manual shift knob – could tell you through vibration when to shift? Maybe you’re new to using a manual transmission, or just want to know the optimum time to shift if you’re looking for the best fuel economy?