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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GM to add wireless smartphone charging
General Motors Co.
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2015 Ford Mustang first ride
Recently we had the opportunity to ride shotgun in a few pre-production examples of the 2015 Mustang around Ford’s Dearborn Development handling course.
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Dodge to auction first Challenger Hellcat for charity
The first copy of the most powerful production muscle car ever made is going to up for auction to benefit charity.
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GM to provide 12 Chevrolet Volts to Across America program
General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet brand is providing 12 plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volts to the nonprofit MBAs Across America program, which is traveling the coun
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3-cylinder 2014 Fiesta SFE has Ford's smallest motor ever
The Fiesta is the smallest car Ford sells in the United States, and now it’s available with the tiniest engine the company has ever made.