Automotive and Transportation Technology

With the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) as its anchor, Clemson’s emphasis on automotive and transportation technology is an engine for innovation, from advanced manufacturing processes to transportation planning and vehicle safety.

CU-ICAR’s vision is to be the premier automotive and motorsports research and educational facility in the world. The CU-ICAR campus in Greenville, S.C., is a 250-plus-acre research park where partners such as BMW, Michelin, Timken and Sun Microsystems are joining with Clemson to focus on automotive research and other transportation issues. The campus is home to the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center, housing automotive testing resources valued at more than $15 million.

Research initiatives range from vehicle structures and materials to robotics, batteries and fuel cells, ergonomics and traffic planning.

The Automotive Safety Research Institute is a research and education initiative that supports safe driving programs targeting all age groups. It's e-Cruisers program for middle school students has received national attention, and ASRI is partnering with the Richard Petty Driving Experience for a nationwide Safe Driving Program.

These and other programs build on Clemson’s strengths in mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.