Publications
Independent Automotive Research & Industry Insights
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) delivers independent, data-driven research and analysis to inform industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders navigating the evolving automotive landscape. Our research examines the economic, technological, manufacturing, and policy developments shaping the future of North America’s automotive industry.
From automotive trade policy, supply chains, and economic trends to advanced manufacturing, electrification, workforce development, and emerging technologies, CAR’s publications provide credible insights and informed perspectives on the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.
Explore our library of automotive research reports, white papers, economic analyses, and industry studies to better understand the forces shaping automotive competitiveness, innovation, and the future of mobility. A lot of CAR’s research is publicly available, reflecting our commitment to advancing industry knowledge and informed decision-making.
Explore CAR Research Publications
Browse our latest research or search the collection to find analysis on the automotive industry topics most relevant to your organization.
Smart Programming: Automotive Renewal and the Michigan Permitting Process
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) has, at the request of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), undertaken a study for the Michigan Automotive Partnership (MAP) of the time needed for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to issue a major modification air quality permit and how it may…
The Michigan Automotive Policy Survey
This report contains two sets of overall results. First, a human resources forecast is presented. Most of the results contained in this section either describe Michigan’s automotive labor economy or forecast expected changes in Michigan’s automotive labor market during 1998-1999.
Michigan Automotive Partnership Research Memorandum No. 1 – The Future of Modular Automotive Systems: Where are the Economic Efficiencies in the Modular-Assembly Concept?
The world auto industry has experienced many fundamental changes in its long history. The majority of these changes have involved important shifts in the market for motor vehicles or improvements in product or manufacturing technologies.
Driving Michigan’s Renaissance Human Resource Issues in Michigan’s Automotive Industry
This report will approach the future challenge in Michigan’s automotive labor market in two ways. First, in section II, a special forecast of job openings at the state’s largest vehicle producing firms (the Big Three) is presented.
Integrated Build: A New Approach to Building Automotive Bodies
This paper introduces three auto body build concepts: net build (NB), functional build (FB) and integrated build (IB). Most manufacturers design and validate their vehicle launches using the NB concept. Report published in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Volume 3, No. 3/4, 2003.
The Digital Body Development System
The Digital Body Development System (DBDS) is a $10.6 million 4 year NIST ATP project to shorten the time to launch vehicles by improving the launch problem solving process.
Michigan Automotive Research and Development Directory
The first ever assembly of data on 135 Michigan companies involved in vehicle research, engineering and product development. A report of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Automotive Partnership.
Estimating the New Automotive Value Chain
The automotive value chain is comprised of one of the largest sets of interconnected markets in the U.S. economy. We define the automotive value chain as the accumulated value produced by companies that sell components, This study was prepared for Accenture.
Advanced Power Technology Survey
The Advanced Power Technology survey is based on the Delphi forecasting process and is highly dependent upon the quality of the small ‘expert’ panel. A Report for the Advanced Power Technology Alliance
Computer Assisted Collaboration in the Automotive Industry: What Are the Complex Problems and How Are Decisions Made?
Market forces are driving the automotive industry toward shorter design times, shorter order fulfillment cycles, and fewer labor hours in final assembly