Center for Automotive Research (CAR)
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is a nonprofit technology market-research group that works with companies in the automotive industry. It partners with dozens of governmental agencies around the United States and Canada, as well as corporate entities including Duke Energy, FIAT Chrysler, Toyota, and General Motors. 1
Contents
Background
Center for Automotive Research’s roots date back to 1981 when it was known as the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation and was based at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. 2 In 2003, it was established as its own entity, partnering with industry giants such as Toyota and General Motors, as well as government entities and educational institutions such as Ohio State University College of Engineering. 3 In addition to offering membership in groups such as its CAR Affiliate program, the Center for Automotive Research provides services in consultation, media appearances, expert speaker presentations, and research assistance. 4
Research
Center for Automotive Research’s research areas encompass all facets of the automotive industry including the development of new technology, managerial questions, government policy impact, and financial streamlining and forecasting. Peripheral topics, such as the impact of the COVID-19 stimulus funds are also studied, and some of this research is accessible only to members of its Affiliates Program. 5
Some of CAR’s research is relative to dealing with policy changes brought about by climate change concerns. Its report Escalating Need for Auto Supply Chain Action to Align with Paris and Limit Warming to 1.5°C advocates for clearly defined, standardized regulations around which manufacturers and suppliers would coordinate. 6
Initiatives
Partnerships
The Center for Automotive Research Affiliate Program offers industry members access to private research and webinars, as well as opportunities to contribute surveys, interviews, and feedback to CAR’s pool of industry data. Corporate affiliates include Ford, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen. 7
It also coordinates the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP), giving its members access to CAR staff for data requests, industry prediction data, and educational and manufacturing resources. The program also offers networking opportunities, and updates via a monthly conference call. This program has dozens of governmental and private entities across the United States and Canada, and its corporate partners include General Motors, Duke Energy, Honda, Toyota, and American Electric Power. 8
In 2012, CAR launched the Coalition for Automotive Lightweighting Materials (CALM), which works to develop technologies for “environmentally sustainable mixed materials” that would reduce vehicle weight, making them more fuel-efficient. 9
Webinars, Podcasts, and Seminars
CAR’s website archives contain dozens of webinar presentations on a broad range of subjects related to the auto industry. Topics include tips on transitioning to electric vehicles, analysis of the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) 2019 contract negotiations, and “Women in the Workforce – How COVID-19 Exposed Workforce Inequality and What Leaders Should Do About It.” 10
The CAR Podcast began in July 2021 and originally aired about once a month, but decreased in frequency after October 2022. It also covered a wide range of topics, including the war in Ukraine, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and a “sustainability” roundtable with members of the CAR Affiliate program. 11
CAR also hosts an in-person Management Briefing Seminar to provide management training opportunities, as well as speaking events, and a “Casino Night” networking event. The 2023 program featured Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) as one of its keynote speakers. 12
Leadership
Alan Amici, president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research, is the former vice president and chief technical officer of manufacturer TE Connectivity, and former head of the Uconnect vehicle platform program at FIAT Chrysler. Prior to this he was a senior manager at Daimler Chrysler in the areas of global service/diagnostics and resident engineering. Amici sits on the industrial engineering advisory board of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. 13
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,567,318 | $2,731,015 | $2,715,322 | View |
| 2023 | $1,908,474 | $3,246,645 | $3,486,300 | View |
| 2022 | $2,277,311 | $2,687,576 | $3,125,432 | View |
| 2021 | $911,154 | $2,931,484 | $3,200,009 | View |
| 2020 | $816,316 | $2,761,929 | $3,440,571 | View |
Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 20
Highest Earning Employees
| Employee | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Amici | PRESIDENT AND CEO JAN-SEP | $211,532 |
| K Venkatesh Prasad | SENIOR VP OF RESEARCH | $161,879 |
| Cherie Van Allen | TREASURER, V-P OF OPERATIONS | $111,087 |
| Steven Polakowski | VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT JAN-JUNE | $80,861 |
| David Leckey | INTERIM CEO OCT-DEC | $58,334 |
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $2,690,424
- Number of Grants: 23
- Number of Funders: 9
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
| Amount | Year | Funder | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| $130,000 | 2021 | Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | The Center for Automotive Research is a nonprofit research organization of professionals with knowledge of the transportation industry, high-level policy analysis and strategic planning skills. The global transition to a low-carbon future poses a set of opportunities and threats to the Midwestern automotive industry's competitive advantage, as several forces align to bring about a vehicle electrification revolution. The Industrial Heartland Case Study project aims to better understand past automotive industry dislocations; the state of automotive, mobility transformations and workforce transition issues; and serves as a resource for stakeholders in Michigan and surrounding states. |