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.
Vehicle Mass Reduction Roadmap Study 2025-2035
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles, Phase 3 was tasked by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with providing estimates of the potential cost, fuel economy improvements, and barriers to deployment of technologies for…
The State of Industry X in Automotive
With the support of a unique and powerful consortium of technology companies, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) investigated the state of Industry X in automotive. Although the research included mostly North American participants, and thus presents a North American perspective, the participating companies are global. Industry X acknowledges that…
The Future of Mobility
Unavailable for public download. For more information on how to put CAR to work for you on a proprietary research project, contact Shaun Whitehouse at [email protected]
Mobility Database
Unavailable for public download. For more information on how to put CAR to work for you on a proprietary research project, contact Shaun Whitehouse at [email protected]
Roof Lightweighting Study
Vehicle mass reduction or “lightweighting” has been deemed very important by automakers because of many benefits including performance and fuel economy. The arrival of automated, connected, electrified, and shared (ACES) technology will make lightweighting more important in the future because of added weight and range anxiety in battery electric vehicles…
Evaluating Innovative Dissimilar Material Joining Technologies
Due to the need to reduce overall vehicle mass, vehicle manufacturers are turning to a multi-material approach to vehicle construction more extensively than has been historically the case. However, because of the differences in the chemical and physical properties of these materials, joining is not as straightforward as, say, welding…
MDOT Processes in Connected and Automated Vehicle Environment
Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies are increasingly integrated into Michigan’s transportation systems. Effective internal communications and successful dissemination of CAV information will help to create an overall CAV environment to advance MDOT’s goals. This study leverages on literature review and an MDOT staff survey for the purposes of evaluating…
Technology Roadmap: Materials and Manufacturing
This report forecasts materials and manufacturing trends based on the CAR team’s research findings as well as input from subject matter experts. The results show that several factors can affect the industry’s progress on material technology in the coming decades, including fuel economy regulations, added weight due to batteries, ADAS,…
Technology Roadmap: Intelligent Mobility Technologies
The automotive, transportation, and mobility industries have experienced transformative changes due to advancements in connectivity and automation technologies, data analysis, and the rise of new mobility services. With such rapid changes in the industry’s landscape, an understanding of where technological development is at present and where it is likely headed…
Advancing Additive Manufacturing into the Mobility Industry
Future cities will likely be dominated by automated, connected, electric, and shared (ACES) vehicles. Automotive customers are demanding greater vehicle personalization and unique ride experiences. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a revolutionary group of technologies that can help automakers cater to the desires of their customers by providing unique solutions for…