Center for Automotive Research

What Center for Automotive Research does

Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is an independent nonprofit research organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It produces industry-driven research and analysis on critical issues affecting the global automotive industry and its impact on the U.S. economy and society, serving automotive manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, industry associations, federal and state policymakers, economic development organizations, and educational institutions.

CAR's portfolio spans business research (economic analysis, forecasting, trade, employment, labor relations) and technology research (connected vehicles, EVs, manufacturing systems, materials). Core offerings include the annual CAR MBS (Management Briefing Seminars) conference, the CAR Podcast, webinars, and the Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP) program. Published works include the 'Smart Manufacturing in Automotive: Deployment and Impact' white paper with Rockwell Automation (2026), the 'Tariff Impact Analysis on Automakers in the United States' (2025), the 'Automotive Suppliers and the Revenue Acquisition Process' update (2025), and a 'Connected Vehicle Ecosystem Assessment.' CAR employs 251-500 staff including PhD-level economists, engineers, and research scientists under a leadership team headed by Dr. K. Venkatesh Prasad (SVP Research and CIO) and Kristin Dziczek (SVP Research).

CAR's revenue model combines direct research contracts (engagements ranging from $20,000 to over $500,000), recurring membership from the Affiliates Program, working group participation fees, and event sponsorships across MBS, webinars, and podcasts. The organization operates a single U.S. headquarters with research scope covering North America and selected global automotive industry topics, sustaining itself through enterprise sales, association funding, and government contracts rather than subscription software or licensing.

Name

Center for Automotive Research

Legal name

Center for Automotive Research

Website

https://cargroup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Center for Automotive Research is an independent nonprofit research organization founded in 2003 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, producing industry-driven research and analysis on economic, technology, and policy issues affecting the U.S. and global automotive industry. It serves automakers, suppliers, dealers, associations, government agencies, and economic development organizations through custom research, the annual CAR MBS conference, the Affiliates Program, and ACP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Industry Research

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive (EDABALAB)

Keywords

• Automotive industry research
• Industry economic analysis
• Policy research services
• Automotive consulting services
• Workforce development research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts: Direct research contract funding from organizations seeking custom automotive industry research projects. Typical engagements start at $20,000 and may exceed $500,000 depending on scope and complexity.
2. Affiliates Program: Support through CAR's Affiliates Program where automotive industry companies pay membership fees to access research, data, and networking opportunities.
3. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for CAR MBS (Management Briefing Seminars), webinars, and podcasts allowing organizations to increase visibility among industry decision makers.
4. Working Group Participation: Revenue from organizations participating in specific working groups focused on core research activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is an independent nonprofit research organization that produces industry-driven research on critical issues facing the automotive industry and its impact on the U.S. economy. Its core offering consists of commissioned research projects, business and technology research (covering EVs, connected vehicles, manufacturing, materials, trade, employment), industry forecasting, and policy analysis delivered to automakers, suppliers, dealers, associations, and government entities. CAR also runs the Automotive Communities Partnership program, the annual CAR MBS Management Briefing Seminars conference, webinars, and a podcast as engagement vehicles around its research output.

Product overview

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) is an independent nonprofit research organization producing industry-driven research and fostering dialogue on critical issues facing the automotive industry. CAR's portfolio consists of core research services spanning business research (economic analysis, forecasting, trade, employment, labor relations) and technology research (connected vehicles, EVs, manufacturing, materials), complemented by the annual CAR MBS conference, the CAR Podcast, webinars, and the Automotive Communities Partnership program. The organization publishes white papers and reports including Smart Manufacturing in Automotive: Deployment and Impact, Tariff Impact Analysis, Connected Vehicle Ecosystem Assessment, and workforce studies, which are delivered through custom consulting engagements and public-facing publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAR MBS: Annual Management Briefing Seminars - industry conference
• Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP)
• The CAR Podcast
• CAR Research

Products and services

• CAR Research Leading-edge research analyzing critical issues facing the automotive industry, including business research on economic analysis, forecasting, trade, and employment, and technology research on connected vehicles, EVs, manufacturing systems, and materials.
• CAR Consulting Services Custom research and consulting services for organizations seeking to commission paid research projects, with typical engagements ranging from $20,000 to over $500,000 depending on scope and complexity.
• CAR MBS (Management Briefing Seminars) Annual industry conference bringing together auto industry leaders, government officials, and analysts to discuss challenges, trends, and the future of the automotive sector.
• CAR Podcast Podcast featuring CAR researchers and industry guests discussing the latest news, trends, and insights from the automotive industry.
• Webinars Online events featuring CAR researchers and industry experts discussing topics such as SDV challenges, automotive pulse reports, and EV infrastructure.
• Automotive Communities Partnership (ACP) Collaborative program bringing together communities, automotive companies, educational institutions, and government agencies to sustain and grow the U.S. automotive footprint through industry updates, forecasts, and networking.
• Smart Manufacturing in Automotive: Deployment and Impact White paper examining AI, machine learning, and automation deployment across automotive, tire, and battery manufacturing sectors, documenting measurable operational gains including up to 50% reduction in unplanned downtime and 5-7% throughput improvements.
• Tariff Impact Analysis on Automakers in the United States Analysis examining the impact of 25% tariffs on imported auto parts and light vehicles, estimating $107.7 billion in increased costs to U.S. automakers and impact to D3 production volume of 6.8 million vehicles.
• Automotive Suppliers and the Revenue Acquisition Process Research analyzing how automotive suppliers process RFQs, tracking improvements in hit rates and efficiency, with findings on technology adoption and AI pilot plans.
• Michigan Automotive Workforce Needs Assessment Research identifying critical job skills and training needs to support the energy transition in the automotive industry at national and state levels.
• Connected Vehicle Ecosystem Assessment Study examining connected vehicle (V2X) technology deployment, regulatory environment, and prioritization framework for domestic implementation focused on road safety, traffic management, and fuel efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAR research on Section 232 tariffs effectively laid out domestic economic and employment consequences, enhancing industry ability to engage in tariff discussions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rockwell AutomationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Rockwell Automation partnered with the Center for Automotive Research to release a joint white paper titled 'Smart Manufacturing in Automotive: Deployment and Impact.' The research examines AI, machine learning, and automation deployment across automotive, tire, and battery manufacturing. Findings include up to 50% reduction in unplanned downtime and 5-7% throughput improvements from real-time production analytics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SBD Automotive: Independent automotive research consultancy specializing in connected car, ADAS, and emerging vehicle technology. Direct peer to CAR's technology research division, serving similar OEM and Tier 1 client base with subscription and custom research.
• AutoPacific: Independent automotive research and consulting firm providing future-oriented industry analysis, forecasting, and consumer research. Direct peer to CAR with similar business model serving OEMs, suppliers, and dealers with subscription and custom research engagements.
• J.D. Power: Long-established automotive research and analytics firm producing industry benchmarks, quality studies, and consumer insights. Comparable to CAR in delivering subscription research and syndicated studies, though J.D. Power is significantly larger with broader consumer survey operations.

Broad incumbents

• Cox Automotive: Major automotive services and data company with research, analytics, and dealer-facing technology solutions. Comparable in serving dealer associations and OEMs with industry intelligence but operates broader commercial portfolio beyond research.
• Deloitte (Automotive): Professional services firm with substantial automotive industry practice producing consumer studies, industry research, and consulting. Overlaps with CAR on industry analysis but delivers advisory engagements at much larger scale.
• Roland Berger (Automotive): Global strategy consultancy with deep automotive industry focus producing market studies, EV research, and industry forecasts. Comparable to CAR in serving automotive industry analysis needs but with broader consulting mandate.
• McKinsey & Company (Automotive Practice): Global management consultancy with a dedicated automotive practice serving OEMs and suppliers on strategy and operations. Competes with CAR for industry research budgets but focuses on transformation advisory rather than independent industry research.
• S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit): Large-scale automotive forecasting and intelligence provider producing vehicle sales, production, and supply chain data. Overlaps with CAR's industry analysis work but operates at significantly greater scale with proprietary data infrastructure.

Emerging players

• RAND Corporation (Transportation Research): Independent nonprofit research institution with transportation and mobility policy research. Comparable to CAR's policy and economic research work, particularly around regulatory and societal impacts of automotive change.
• Brookings Institution (Economic Studies / Transportation): Independent policy research organization producing automotive industry economic studies and policy analysis. Overlaps with CAR's industry economic contribution research and policy advisory work for government clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-automotive-research
• Xx.com/cargroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/cargroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Automotive Research