Research And Development

Also, BMW and Mercedes could share a platform for 1 Series and A-Class.

It's part of plans to introduce 20 new EVs worldwide by 2023.

Plans include electrification and a move into China and Indonesia.

Economies of scale matter with technology.

BMW wants half its research and development staff to be computer programmers to build the AI that will control upcoming self-driving BMWs.

The FCA Tech Center's new 4x4 dyno allows engineers to perform year-round extreme weather testing.

Subaru is making a major investment in its powertrains to comply with the latest fuel economy regulations, and to comply in California, a plug-in hybrid is likely on the way. This might mean more expensive models from the company in the future.

It looks as if Hyundai is set to build a test facility at the famous Nürburgring. Carscoop reports the Korean automaker has commenced construction on a 10,000-square-foot test center with access to the lengthy German track. Hyundai says the $7.3 million facility will help the company focus on improving the ride and handling of its vehicles through extensive research and developme

A scan of recent Honda headlines shows a corporate entity that you'd think few people, and even fewer CEOs, would complain about: in spite of the odd recall, Honda sales are up, it tops an ALG survey on perceived quality, has excellent Jonathon Ramsey

General Motors has confirmed it will cut 100 research and development positions at its Warren, Michigan, Technical Center and will close another R&D lab in Bangalore, India.

These days, most Toyota models are about as likely to get your pulse up as the latest hardware from Frigidaire. But it wasn't always so. There was a time when Toyota counted itself among the world's sports car manufacturers with vehicles like the Supra, Celica All Trac and MR-2. Those

Porsche is investing heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the company's impressive sales growth. Automotive News reports the German automaker is spending more than 10 percent of its revenue on research and development. That figure comes from Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche's head of R&D (for comparison's sake, automakers spend between five and six percent).

Hyundai Motor Group, the parent of both South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Group and Kia International, will boost investment in facilities, research and development by 16 percent this year largely on its efforts to develop more fuel efficient engines for the two automakers.

Time. Patience. Grit. Determination. It will take all of these and more if Volkswagen is to succeed in its quest to become the world's largest and most profitable automaker. But there's one more thing it's going to require: money. Lots and lots of spending money.

Michigan has been begging for good news from the auto industry lately, and the Great Lakes state got some from a company that was once considered public enemy number one. Toyota has officially opened a brand new $187 million technical center in York Township that will provide 400 more jobs to the beleaguered state while giving the Japanese automaker additional manpower to develop more new vehicles for North America. The York Township facility will compliment the 700-person Toyota research and de