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.
-
California HOV lanes allow Ford C-Max; nearly 5,600 plug-in hybrids added
A week after the Environmental Protection Agency certified the Ford C-Max Energi with an all-electric driving range of 21 miles and a total range of 620 miles, the vehicle has joined the ranks of cars allowed to cruise California's car-pool lanes without any passengers.
-
Surprise: What's the top gaining auto brand in Calif.?
The biggest gaining auto brand in car-happy California may come as a surprise.
-
GM Moves Closer to Zero-Waste Goals as Recycling Generates $1bn Annually
General Motors (GM) recently announced that it is ramping up its waste diversion goals and now generates $1 billion a year from the reuse and recycling of byproducts the company generates at its manufacturing plants. With the massive impact a company such as GM has because of the size and scope of its operations as well as supply chain, the company’s recent achievements and future goals are an important step for other automakers to emulate.
-
Ford bringing new Lincolns, jobs and long future to Flat Rock
Production of the next generation of Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS, the company's flagship sedans, is expected to move to Michigan's Flat Rock plant in a couple of years, providing security and maybe even more jobs than the 1,400 people to be hired for a current expansion, the Free Press has learned.
-
GM: Chevrolet continues to deliver worldwide record sales
DETROIT, MI- Chevrolet posted record-setting sales worldwide for an eighth-straight quarter, according to General Motors Co.