Publications
The Center for Automotive Research is involved in the research of significant issues that relate to the future direction of the global automotive industry. As a nonprofit research organization, and in cooperation with study funders, most CAR research is released publicly through this website.
Tariff Impact Analysis on Automakers in the United States: 25% Tariffs – Imported Auto Parts and Light Vehicles
CAR developed a tariff modeling framework for AAPC to assess the impacts of initially proposed tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. The analysis combined unique top-down and bottom-up approaches to estimate cost exposure across the industry, enabling detailed assessment by automaker, region, and vehicle model to support data-driven policy and…
Indiana Automotive Manufacturing Transition Analysis
As the automotive industry undergoes shifts as a result of changing propulsion technologies including electric vehicles, it is key to examine opportunities for businesses to understand potential strategic pathways to expand or diversify their product and service offerings. In 2025, CAR conducted an analysis of Indiana’s automotive manufacturing businesses across…
Plant Risk Assessment
In 2025, CAR conducted a comprehensive plant risk analysis covering vehicle assembly plants, propulsion facilities (engines and transmissions), and light-vehicle battery cell plants (existing and planned). Building on more than a decade of risk-scoring and benchmarking automaker plants across North America, the analysis provided actionable, data-driven insights to support state…
Michigan Semiconductor Supply Chain Assessment
As domestic semiconductor fabrication capacity expands, it is essential to identify oportunities for the broader industrial base to its diversify products and services to support sustained industry growth. In 2025, CAR conducted an assessment of Michigan’s semiconductor supply chain, highlighting strategic opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in…
Connected Vehicle Ecosystem Assessment
Connected vehicle or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology is designed to enable vehicles to communicate with one another, along with surrounding infrastructure, pedestrians, and other road users. V2X technology is critical for reducing crashes, improving safety, and traffic management, and coincides with advancements in automated driving systems. CAR completed a study in…
Automotive Suppliers and the Revenue Acquisition Process – Then and Now: 2025 Update
Automotive Suppliers and the Revenue Acquisition Process – Then and Now: 2025 Update The comparison shows that the RA process remains at the core of supplier performance but has not become more efficient. Suppliers are now processing more RFQs each year — typically over 800 according to 2025 study respondents,…
Tariff Impact Analysis on Automakers in the United States
Tariff Impact Analysis on Automakers in the United States The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) released a new analysis of the impact of potential tariffs on imported auto parts and light vehicles. The analysis addresses the critical question: What impact will a uniform 25% tariff on all trading partners have…
Northwest Ohio Automotive Manufacturing Sector Study – Executive Summary
Northwest Ohio Automotive Manufacturing Sector Study – Executive Summary The Center for Automotive Research (CAR), in collaboration with the Center to Advance Manufacturing (CTAM), undertook an initiative to identify automotive manufacturing organizations in Northwest Ohio and analyze their key business needs. This work aims to support strategic efforts to support…
Economic Contribution of the U.S. Automotive Industry
Economic Contribution of the U.S. Automotive Industry An Economic Contribution Analysis of Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing in the United States Although it is well established that the automotive industry contributes significantly to the US economy and employs millions of people, the industry’s expanding…
Affordability: The Twenty-Five Thousand Dollar Electric Vehicle
Affordability: The Twenty-Five Thousand Dollar Electric Vehicle White Paper A topic on the minds of consumers and automotive industry members alike relates to vehicle affordability. CAR explores this issue in detail in a series of round table discussions with experts and industry stakeholders with a focus on supply, demand, and…
