GM Funds Collaborative Research At U-M

FOR RELEASE: February 5, 2003

General Motors and the University of Michigan Expand R&D and Educational Collaborations

DETROIT- General Motors Corp. and the University of Michigan today announced that GM will give the U-M more than $10 million in grants for joint research and development programs, and educational enhancement.

GM will fund two Collaborative Research Laboratories (CRL) at the U-M, providing $9 million over the next five years. These labs will focus on Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing and Engine Systems Research.

GM will also provide a grant of $1.2 million over three years to enhance a variety of College of Engineering and Business School initiatives, including their joint Tauber Manufacturing Institute, diversity programs, scholarships, high-school outreach, and classroom instruction delivered simultaneously in multiple countries.

"GM and the U-M have a successful history of working together to advance automotive technology, while helping train the best and brightest automotive leaders," said Tom Stephens, GM Powertrain group vice president. "Our work with U-M faculty and students is a tremendous partnership that helps us in the development of cleaner, more-efficient gasoline and diesel engines - and to better understand how we manufacture, market and sell GM vehicles."

Today's CRL announcement builds upon a program started in 1998 when GM Research and Development established its first Collaborative Research Laboratory at the U-M. That program focused on advanced powertrain, advanced body design and manufacturing, and system optimization.

"This partnership brings together an impressive group of top notch minds to help GM tackle some important issues around engine efficiencies and vehicle manufacturing," said Dr. Alan Taub, executive director of science laboratories at the GM Research and Development Center in Warren, Mich. "Several U-M engineering graduates have moved on to careers at GM, so programs like these also help us train future leaders in our industry."

The 1998 program was so successful that GM and the U-M are significantly expanding their efforts.

The original CRL will be expanded to focus on Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing. This lab will concentrate on four key areas of manufacturing: forming, joining, assembly and manufacturing systems.

The expanded Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing CRL will be a five-year commitment, running through 2007. Total funding will be $3.8 million, with $2.4 million of this going toward sponsored research and $1.4 million for research grants.

The second CRL will be a new effort focusing on Engine Systems Research. This project also will be a five-year commitment. It will have total funding of $5.25 million with a roughly equal amount going toward sponsored research and unrestricted grants.

Work in the Engine Systems CRL will include such key issues as optical diagnostics and understanding of the thermal conditions in direct-injection engines, optimizing diesel engine combustion, and modeling of engine and aftertreatment systems.

"We are grateful for GM's historical and growing support of the University of Michigan College of Engineering," said Stephen Director, the Robert J. Vlasic dean of engineering at the U-M. "By investing in technological innovation, bright minds and a diverse community, GM is demonstrating leadership in areas of great importance to our society. Our faculty and students are looking forward to continuing to work with GM to develop improved manufacturing technologies and enhanced engine efficiency. We value the GM relationship and eagerly accept this challenge."

The U-M is one of only eight institutions around the world involved in the prestigious CRL program with GM. The others are Brown University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, RWTH-Aachen University in Germany, and the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore in India.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

The University of Michigan (U-M) is one of America's leading public universities. It is the home of 19 colleges and schools, all ranking among the top institutions in their fields. Since the early 1990s, it has been number one among the nation's universities in total research expenditures. More information on U-M can be found at www.umich.edu.