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, GM Seeking App Ideas That Enhance Driving
General Motors and Ford took a page out of Apple's book, or smartphone, when at the past month's Consumer Electronics Show they invited outside software developers to create applications for their vehicles.
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Chrysler Unveils Limited Edition Mopar '13 Dart
Chrysler Group LLC unveiled a new, limited edition Mopar version of its 2013 Dodge Dart built and customized with parts from the automaker's accessory division.
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Sales Rise For Ford, GM, Chrysler In January
All three Detroit automakers and most of their foreign competitors have posted solid sales increases for January as pent-up demand and selected discounting in certain segments pulled a steady flow of consumers to their showrooms.
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January Auto Sales: Ford Up 22%, GM and Chrysler Up 16%
General Motors Co. sales jumped 15.9 percent in January, as the Detroit automaker sold 194,699 vehicles in the United States.
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GM Donates $1 Million To Habitat For Humanity
The General Motors Foundation deepened its commitment to Habitat for Humanity International with a fresh donation of $1 million to benefit neighborhood revitalization efforts throughout the U.S.