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.
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GM feeds phone app frenzy -- remote start, door lock now standard
General Motors has decided to make standard for five years the convenience of remote door-locking and remote engine starts through its OnStar RemoteLink Mobile App.
The perk for OnStar-equipped model year 2014 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles will continue for the full five years "even if the owner declines to pay for other OnStar service," Phil Abram, chief infotainment officer for GM, said in an interview.
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What does this insanely awesome button do?
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is home to perhaps one of the most appropriate buttons we've encountered in the What Does This Button Do? series. Mysterious buttons are rarely spelled out as clearly as the Jeep SRT8's, or as fun to use.
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American Pickup Sales Leading Best Sales Year Since '07
Business is booming at Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (PXD), an oil and gas exploration company, and so is its demand for pickups. Pioneer bought more than 250 new Ford F-Series trucks since August and is ordering 200 more.
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U.S. auto sales post big gains in May
Auto sales rose in May, helped by stronger consumer confidence and a rebound in home sales and construction.
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Strong pickup truck sales boosted U.S. autos in May
U.S. auto sales rose more than expected in May as construction workers and oil drillers bought more pickup trucks to meet growing demand for their services, a trend that major automakers expect to persist throughout the year.