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.

 

 

 

  • New GM Investments and Job Creation

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    \t\tSince launching the new GM last July, we've announced U.S. production increases and investments that total more than $1.4 billion and create more than 5,500 jobs.

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    • \t\t\tChevrolet Cruze program represents a $500 million investment in U.S. manufacturing operations, which includes more than $350 million to re-tool the Lordstown facility.

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    • \t\t\tWe announced a second shift at Lordstown last August that restored just over 1,000 jobs.

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    • \t\t\tLast September, we announced third shifts for our Lansing Delta Township, Fort Wayne, and Fairfax, Kansas assembly plants – adding another 2,400 jobs. The third shift at Fairfax started late last month; the third shifts at Lansing Delta Township and Fort Wayne will begin in the second quarter.

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    • \t\t\tIn December, we detailed our $700 million investment in eight Michigan-area facilities related to production of the Chevy Volt.

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    • \t\t\tLast month, our Arlington, Texas, plant added overtime in order to increase production.

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    • \t\t\tAlso last month, we announced a $246 million investment to develop and manufacture electric motors in White Marsh, Maryland, which will create about 200 jobs. Research and engineering facilities in Michigan, Indiana, and California are also receiving investments.

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    • \t\t\tAnd just last week, we announced an investment of nearly $500 million in three powertrain plants – Tonawanda, NY; Defiance, OH; and Bay City, MI – for production of the next-generation Ecotec engine that we’ll use in the Cruze – about 550 jobs between the three plants.

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    \t\tThese actions affect 7 states and 18 different U.S. facilities, and represent a commitment to our future, to the communities that support us, and to the United States.