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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Analysts: 2014 Jeep Cherokee an aggressive, smart move for Chrysler
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee’s design combined with a well-respected name should bode well for Chrysler Group LLC, according to analysts.
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Ford Targets 41% Per-Vehicle Cut in Waste to Landfills
Ford Motor Co., the second-largest U.S. automaker, said that it plans to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills for each vehicle that it builds by 41 percent as part of a five-year plan through 2016.
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Spotify Adapts Its Mobile App for Ford Vehicles
Spotify, the streaming music service, has made its first move into the competitive world of in-car entertainment by adapting its mobile app for Ford’s Sync AppLink system.
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GM, AT&T team to give vehicles high-speed Internet access by '15
General Motors Co. is expected to announce today a partnership with AT&T that will bring embedded 4G LTE mobile Internet access into most 2015 GM vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.
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GM cars to be Internet hotspots
General Motors, laying down a high-stakes bet on the future of vehicle connectivity, plans to make each of its cars an Internet hotspot with a high-speed broadband connection.