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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Chevy Brings 'Big Smile' to the Face of Carbon Reduction
In January, Chevrolet announced new investments in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a part of its carbon reduction program, which seeks to prevent up to 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere. The projects are as varied as they are innovative, from helping truckers avoid idling to forest conservation. Chevy is investing in renewable energy projects, too (a subject GM is very familiar with).
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GM launches 2014 Chevrolet Silverado production
General Motors launched production today on the redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, the most popular vehicle in the company’s U.S. lineup.
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Chrysler investing $20M in Toledo plant to support 9-speed auto production
In 2011, Chrysler announced a $72-million investment in its Toledo Machining Plant to modernize production of the eight- and nine-speed torque-converters for automatic transmissions made there.
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Chrysler Foundation supports 10 Michigan high school robotics teams with grants
As high school teams such as Killer Bees, Bionic Barons, Purple Raiders and More Martians invaded the 2013 FIRST Robotics World competition, Chrysler gave 10 teams a big financial boost.
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Chrysler Group Plans to Invest Nearly $20 Million in Toledo Machining Plant
Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it will invest $19.6 million in its Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg, Ohio, to increase capacity of the torque converter it’s machining for the nine-speed transmission.