MRacing

What MRacing does

MRacing is the University of Michigan's Formula SAE student engineering design team, founded in 1986 and operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization within the College of Engineering. The team maintains approximately 50-60 active student members drawn from the College of Engineering, LSA, STAMPS, and Ross, with an open-membership model that imposes no applications, interviews, or dues. Headquartered at the Wilson Center workspace at 2603 Draper Drive in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the team competes in Formula SAE competitions primarily across North America.

MRacing designs and manufactures Formula-style racecars, operating two distinct product eras. From 1986 to 2021, the team competed in the FSAE combustion class, building vehicles MR10 through MR21 and accumulating Top 10 finishes 26 times, Top 3 finishes 10 times, and two #1 World rankings. In 2022, MRacing merged with Michigan Electric Racing (MER) and transitioned to the FSAE EV class, producing vehicles MR22 through MR26. Electric vehicles feature an AWD outboard motor and gearbox drivetrain capable of 1000 Nm of torque, a 600V accumulator with pouch-cell battery technology (MR24 onward), torque vectoring, carbon fiber monocoque construction, and additive/topology-optimized components (MR25). A parallel Vehicle Software and Instrumentation (VSI) division develops autonomous driving capability using LiDAR, sensors, cameras, and antennas for mapping and perception.

MRacing is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships and individual donations rather than product revenue. Corporate sponsors are organized into Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers and include General Motors, BorgWarner, Schaeffler, ZF, Phoenix Composite Solutions, Trumpf, Toray CMA, Alro, RoboSense, Mcity, Pratt & Miller, Multimatic, 3M, Magna, Blue Origin, Boeing, Cadence, Formlabs, Anduril, Stryker, VectorNav, Roush, Sigmatex, Airtech, and others. Individual donor fundraising through University of Michigan Giving Blueday generated $24,500+ from 450+ donors in 2025. The University of Michigan College of Engineering serves as the institutional parent organization, providing facilities, recognition, and institutional support.

Name

MRacing

Legal name

MRacing (University of Michigan Formula SAE Team)

Website

https://mracing.engin.umich.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MRacing is the University of Michigan's Formula SAE student engineering team, founded in 1986, designing and racing electric (and historically combustion) Formula-style racecars. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit serves approximately 50-60 active student members and is funded through tiered corporate sponsorships and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship Revenue: MRacing operates on funding from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Sponsors receive recognition and support the #1 Formula SAE team in North America through tiered platinum, gold, silver, and bronze partnerships. The organization is a 501(c)(3) organization allowing for tax-deductible donations.
2. Donations/Charitable Contributions: Individual donations from students, alumni, and donors through university fundraising events like Giving Blueday. Raised over $24,500 from 450+ donors in recent Giving Blueday campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MRacing is a University of Michigan student engineering design team that designs, builds, and races Formula SAE electric (and historically combustion) race cars for annual collegiate competitions. The team provides hands-on engineering education and competition experience while delivering tiered sponsor recognition packages to corporate partners and fundraising outreach to alumni and donors as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

MRacing is the University of Michigan's Formula SAE team offering a portfolio of Formula SAE race cars. The product lineup spans two eras: combustion vehicles (MR10-MR21, 2010-2021) and electric vehicles (MR22-MR26, 2022-present). MRacing also incorporates the Michigan Electric Racing (MER) legacy vehicles (MER19, MER20/21) following the 2022 merger of MRacing and MER. The electric vehicles include MR22 (first all-electric under MRacing name with 2 inboard motors), MR23 (first 4WD with outboard motor system), MR24 (pouch-cell accumulator with torque vectoring), and MR25 (fastest car built with topology-optimized components). MRacing also has an autonomous vehicle program through its VSI (Vehicle Software and Instrumentation) division. The team competes in FSAE combustion class (1986-2021) and FSAE EV class (since 2022), achieving #1 in North America rankings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MR22 Electric Race Car
• MR23 Electric Race Car
• MR24 Electric Race Car
• MR25 Electric Race Car
• MR26 Electric Race Car
• MRacing VSI Autonomous Driving System
• Tiered Corporate Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10 finish 26 times, Top 3 finish 10 times, World #1 twice
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, silver, gold and bronze.

• General MotorsplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum tier sponsor of MRacing. General Motors supports the #1 Formula SAE team in North America through corporate sponsorship.
• FordsilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor supporting MRacing's engineering education and racing program.
• BorgWarnerplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier sponsor specializing in e-mobility solutions, supporting electric vehicle development.
• SchaefflerplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier automotive and industrial supplier sponsor providing technology components.
• ZFplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier technology partner for vehicle systems and components.
• MultimaticgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier motorsports technology partner providing specialized components.
• Pratt & MillergoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier motorsports engineering and manufacturing partner.
• Phoenix Composite SolutionsplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier composite solutions provider supporting carbon fiber monocoque and aerodynamic component development.
• TrumpfplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier manufacturing technology partner providing advanced manufacturing equipment.
• LEMOgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier connector and cable solutions provider for vehicle electronics.
• Toray CMAplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier advanced materials supplier for composite structures.
• AlroplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier metal service center providing aluminum and steel materials.
• Offshore SparsgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier sponsor providing specialized components.
• 3MgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier technology and materials sponsor.
• MagnasilverTechnology or IntegrationSilver tier automotive supplier partner.
• Blue OriginsilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier aerospace company supporting engineering education.
• BoeingsilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier aerospace sponsor supporting engineering programs.
• CadencesilverTechnology or IntegrationSilver tier electronic design automation sponsor.
• FormlabssilverTechnology or IntegrationSilver tier 3D printing technology provider for prototyping.
• AndurilsilverTechnology or IntegrationSilver tier defense technology company supporting engineering education.
• StrykersilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier medical technology sponsor.
• VectorNavsilverTechnology or IntegrationSilver tier navigation and sensor technology provider supporting autonomous systems development.
• University of Michigan EngineeringplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional parent organization providing support, facilities, and recognition. MRacing is the flagship engineering design team of the College of Engineering.
• McityplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier University of Michigan transportation research center supporting autonomous vehicle development.
• UM Battery LabbronzeTechnology or IntegrationBronze tier battery testing and development facility supporting electric vehicle powertrain development.
• RoboSenseplatinumTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum tier LiDAR and sensor technology provider supporting autonomous racing capabilities.
• RoushgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier engineering and manufacturing partner for racing components.
• SigmatexgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier composite textile materials supplier for carbon fiber structures.
• Airtech Advanced Materials GroupgoldTechnology or IntegrationGold tier advanced composite materials supplier for manufacturing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Purdue Formula SAE: Purdue's Formula SAE team is a long-running, well-funded program with strong industrial sponsorships and consistent Top 10 competition finishes, directly comparable to MRacing in scope and operations.
• Georgia Tech Motorsports: Georgia Tech's FSAE team is a perennial top competitor in the EV class with deep corporate sponsor relationships, comparable in scale, technical scope, and competition footprint to MRacing.
• MIT Motorsports: MIT's Formula SAE team is one of the most established and well-funded collegiate motorsports programs in North America, directly comparable to MRacing in competing at FSAE EV, recruiting top engineering talent, and securing major automotive/Tier-1 sponsors.
• UC Berkeley Formula SAE: UC Berkeley's Formula SAE team operates a comparable student-led engineering design organization with EV and combustion programs and corporate sponsorship model similar to MRacing.
• Stanford Formula Racing: Stanford's Formula SAE team competes in the EV class and is similarly backed by Silicon Valley tech sponsors, making it a strong peer to MRacing's electric powertrain and autonomous driving ambitions.
• Texas A&M Formula SAE / Aggie Motorsports: Texas A&M's Formula SAE team competes in both combustion and EV classes at a comparable scale and has a similar multi-tier corporate sponsorship model to MRacing.
• Cornell Racing: Cornell Racing is a long-standing FSAE competitor in the EV class with strong sponsorship ties to automotive suppliers, providing a comparable student-run engineering team structure and competition profile.
• Virginia Tech Formula SAE: Virginia Tech's Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) and related FSAE efforts are strong direct peers with a similar EV-focused engineering program and major automotive OEM sponsorship portfolio.

Others

• University of Michigan Mcity: U-M's Mcity autonomous vehicle research center is a strategic partner of MRacing (Platinum sponsor), and the two collaborate on autonomous driving technology development — making it thematically adjacent and ecosystem-relevant.

Broad incumbents

• Formula SAE / SAE International: SAE International is the governing body that organizes Formula SAE competitions worldwide, providing the regulatory framework, rules, and competition venues that all Formula SAE teams (including MRacing) participate in.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mracingfsae
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mracing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 MRacing