CAR Research

Financing the Infrastructure to Support Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Countries around the world have implemented regulatory requirements to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. These regulations encourage automakers to sell alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which use fuels such as natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, and biofuels. Automakers are already making investments in developing and manufacturing AFVs. There are many challenges to increasing AFV market share and providing appropriate support of fueling infrastructure for these unconventional vehicles. More...

Economic Contribution of the Ford Motor Company Michigan Assembly Plant to the Michigan Economy

Michigan has a rich legacy of automotive assets that are a bedrock of the state’s economy. This report examines the extensive supply chain that supports one assembly plant – Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant (MAP) in Wayne County, Michigan. This plant employs 5,000 people building the latest in fuel efficient vehicles, and it also supports another 19,000 jobs in the state’s economy (as well as another 24,000 in the rest of the nation). Many of these jobs are in small manufacturing firms that supply parts and services to the plant. More...

After the Bailout: Future Prospects for the U.S. Auto Industry

This CAR report reviews the “comeback” of the automotive industry over the last three years in the North American market, including the entire U.S. motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industry. It details a series of forecasts to estimate where the U.S. auto industry is heading in the next 4-5 years in terms of sales, production, and employment. Finally, the report discusses the growth prospects of the U.S. industry in the long run including the industry’s potential for adding to the growth of the overall U.S. economy. More...

International Survey of Best Practices in Connected Vehicle Technologies: 2012 Update

This report investigates connected vehicle and connected vehicle-related activities underway outside Michigan, especially international examples of connected vehicle work, for the purpose of understanding and describing overall best practices in connected vehicles. More...

Events

CAR Management Briefing Seminars

August 5–8, 2013
Traverse City, Michigan

Mobility. Profitability. Sustainability. 

Early registration is pacing well ahead of last year for the CAR Management Briefing Seminars 2013—the “can’t miss” industry event of the summer!  Reserve your place now to take advantage of early rates.

Industry insiders know Traverse City is the place to be each August for outstanding sessions focused on the industry’s hot topics and networking events with that summer ambiance. With the foundation of CAR’s research behind the development of the formal sessions, and the numerous opportunities to network in a relaxed setting, attendees will receive a vision of what’s happening as the industry balances between short-term profitability, medium-term growth and long-term sustainability. 

Newly added speakers include:

• Bill Krueger,Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Production Engineering and Supply Chain Management, Nissan Americas
• Grace Lieblein, Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors
• Mauro Pino, Head of World Class Manufacturing, Chrysler Group LLC
• Dr. Jan Spies, Head of Factory Planning, Volkswagen AG
• James Tetreault, Vice President, North America Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company

Register before June 15 to take advantage of early registration rates. For the latest conference updates, please visit the event page. To learn how your company can be engaged with CAR's flagship event, contact Lisa Hart at bGhhcnRAY2FyZ3JvdXAub3Jn or (734) 929-0465.

CAR Affiliates

May 7 2013 | CAR Industry Briefing & Affiliate Dinner – Plymouth, Michigan

More than 100 CAR Affiliates and guests participated in the spring CAR Industry Briefing & Affiliates Dinner on May 7.  In addition to presentations from Dr. Sean McAlinden, Brett Smith and Richard Wallace of CAR, guest speaker Ralph Blessing, Executive Vice President, Market Opportunities and Innovation, GfK Custom Research, addressed “Consumer Preferences Among Emerging Vehicle Technologies."

For more information about the CAR Affiliates Program, please visit the CAR Affiliate page. 

Automotive Communities Partnership

May 7 2013 | Quarterly Meeting – Ingersoll, Ontario

For the second quarter meeting, ACP members visited CAMI Automotive Inc. in Ingersoll, Ontario, on May 7 with a tour of Hino Motors on May 6. For more information about ACP, visit http://acp.cargroup.org/