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 to add 2,000 jobs at Missouri plant to meet truck, van demand
Ford Motor Co. will add 2,000 jobs at a factory near Kansas City, Mo., to meet surging demand for pickup trucks and to build a new van.
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Truck Surge Revs GM, Ford, Chrysler Sales
U.S. pickup truck sales boomed in April, contributing to double-digit sales gains at Detroit auto makers as improving home construction spurred new-vehicle purchases by contractors and tradesmen.
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Ford to invest $1.1B, hire 2,000 to meet demand for trucks, vans
The pickup segment this year is growing three times faster than the auto industry as a whole, and one domestic automaker is making a production adjustment to meet swelling demand.
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What's behind best April for Detroit's Big 3 since 2007?
Full-size pickup trucks drove the Detroit 3 to their best April vehicle-sales numbers since 2007.
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Ford, Chrysler, GM sales up by double digits for April; Toyota down in solid month for industry
Ford reported an April sales increase of 18%, while General Motors and Chrysler each enjoyed 11% gains, bolstered by a strong stock market, rising home prices and many consumers’ need to replace old vehicles.