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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Ford, Chrysler sales best in years; Caddy powers GM
Ford Motor and Chrysler Group reported their best May new-vehicle sales in years, and General Motors got a solid boost from its Cadillac brand.
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General Motors, Ford and Chrysler post healthy May auto sales
Auto sales rose in May, helped by stronger consumer confidence and a rebound in home sales and construction.
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GM: Construction underway of $258 million IT Center in Metro Detroit
DETROIT- General Motors Co. recently started construction on its second Enterprise Data Center at its Proving Ground in Milford.
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World's largest Model A museum opening
If you're an auto fan and in the upper Midwest this vacation season, here's another reason to make a stop at Hickory Corners, Mich.: the world's largest Model A Ford museum opened last week on the campus of the Gilmore Car Museum -- actually a collection of museums -- off I-94 near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
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'Under the Pentastar' Wraps the Week
"Under the Pentastar” is a weekly recap of some of the major stories at Chrysler Group LLC. This week's edition includes Ram 1500 earning an Automobile Magazine All-Star award, the start of the third annual SRT Tour, a new commercial featuring Dodge Charger's partnership with Defiance, and Mopar drivers taking home two titles at the NHRA Kansas Nationals.