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 helping suppliers keep up with faster output, executive says

    ACME — A surge of new model launches that will soon accelerate is straining the ability of automakers and suppliers to keep production on schedule without major quality glitches, several industry officials said Tuesday.

    General Motors has hired about 200 quality engineers to work with suppliers in the field to help with the onslaught of new vehicles. The effort began last summer, Grace Lieblein, vice president of global purchasing, told reporters at the Center for Automotive Research annual U-M Management Brief Seminars.

  • Average age of American cars hits a record 11.4 years as quality improves

    TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. — Americans are keeping their cars and trucks longer than ever, and even with new car sales increasing, the average age will continue to rise, an industry research firm says.

    The average age of the 247 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads hit a record of 11.4 years in January, the latest figures available from state registration data gathered by the Polk research firm.

  • Cadillac ELR Goes Ultrasonic in Pursuit of High Quality

    DETROIT – Ultrasonic welding, a high-tech manufacturing process used in the aerospace and medical industries, is helping ensure high quality for the new Cadillac ELR extended-range electric luxury coupe that goes on sale in North America in early 2014.

    Ultrasonic welding’s key advantage is exceptional and predictable quality and performance from one battery pack to the next. Every ELR battery, for example, has close to 200 ultrasonic welds. Each is required to meet stringent quality requirements, enabling Cadillac to offer an eight-year/100,000-mile battery system warranty.

  • GM donates $900K to Project Lead the Way programs

    General Motors Co. said Friday it is giving $900,000 to Project Lead the Way programs in Michigan that will help teach middle and high school students science, technology, engineering and math.

    The grant to the organization, a nonprofit provider of the science, technology, engineering and math curriculum, will be paid in $300,000 amounts over three years, with the possibility to extend further, GM said. The funding could help add the nonprofit’s curriculum at 24 more schools in Michigan. Currently, 122 schools in the state offer the curriculum, which includes engineering and biomedical sciences studies.