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.
Assessing the Cost & Benefit of Effective Lightweighting Technologies
This report examines why lightweighting may be a viable solution and examines the cost of lightweight automotive closures. This research analyzes the direct manufacturing cost by modeling the manufacturing processes of the door-in-white subsystem, including the inner and outer panels, hinge reinforcements, and intrusion beams, concluding with the joining of…
Management Procedures for Data Collected via ITS
This report is an extension and update of a previous report prepared by CAR, PB, and MDOT in September 2013 entitled Management Procedures for Data Collected via Intelligent Transportation Systems. The 2013 report provided an overview and broad discussions of National ITS Architecture and Standards, statewide transportation data management policies,…
Connected vs. Automated Vehicles as Generators of Useful Data
This report summarizes the types of data that may be available from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) connected vehicle effort, as well as data from advanced automated vehicle systems. The USDOT connected vehicle program emphasizes the creation of transportation-related data that will be available and usable by public…
Crowdsourcing Transportation Systems Data
“Crowdsourcing” has been a topic of increasing interest in the popular press, but the concept is often ill-defined. Crowdsourcing involves leveraging the combined intelligence, knowledge, or experience of a group of people to answer a question, solve a problem, or manage a process. Due to ever-increasing connectivity and emerging data…
Accelerating the Growth of the U.S. Automotive Manufacturing Industry at Home, Rather than Abroad
This CAR research initiative examines the critical success factors necessary for continued global automotive investment growth within the southern U.S. automotive manufacturing region. The states funding the effort include Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, which are referred to in this study as the Southern Automotive Research Alliance…
International Survey of Best Practices in Connected and Automated Vehicle Technologies – 2014 Update
Early research and deployment in connected and automated vehicle (CAV) systems can provide a variety of benefits. Such efforts are taking place throughout the world (especially in the United States, Europe, and Asia). This study highlights major CAV deployment efforts throughout the world and evaluates important factors for successful deployment….
ITS Data Ethics in the Public Sector
This report provides ethical decision-support for transportation professionals involved with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) data. Ethical concerns regarding ITS usually focus on travelers’ right to privacy,and especially location privacy. This report establishes core principles of ethical behavior for government use of ITS data using the American lineage of political and…
Advanced Information Technology Solutions: An Engine of Innovation
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) developed this white paper to identify the key market drivers that influence the use of automotive IT solutions, investigate new tools and approaches to IT that address these market drivers, and to evaluate information technology’s potential impact on the automotive industry. CAR’s research included…
Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Sustainable Transportation Systems in Beijing
With an increasing population and expanding economy, China has emerged as an important world power. In recent decades, China’s urban population has grown exponentially, with a corresponding increase in the personal wealth of citizens. The capital city of Beijing exemplifies the rapid development of urban China. The city is now…
Pavement Condition Monitoring with Connected Vehicle Data
Considering the possibility for safer and more efficient data collection, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) asked researchers at CAR to investigate the potential for connected vehicle data to contribute to pavement condition and performance assessment for the department’s transportation asset management (TAM) programs. CAR’s investigation involved the synthesis and…