It once took up to five years to design a vehicle, but
today it takes less than three -- and automakers are driving
toward a vehicle development cycle that is two years or
less. Faced with fierce global competition and evolving
consumer preferences, it is imperative that vehicle development
today be fast, low-cost, high-quality, and conducted in
collaboration with globally distributed partners.
That's why the mission of the Vehicle Development Research
Lab is to deliver innovative product technology and development
processes for safe, affordable, quality cars and trucks.
The lab's five areas of focus include quality and advanced
vehicle development; vehicle development processes; computer-aided
engineering; vehicle structures; and vehicle safety.
Key technologies include highly reliable Web-based design
product development systems; virtual-reality based visualization;
virtual design and testing; and synthesis and optimization
techniques for product design systems. Other critical R&D
areas include new body designs using light-weight recyclable
materials, energy-efficient vehicle subsystems, and advanced
occupant protection systems.
