Multi-million-dollar funding to boost automotive research

Windsor, ON – A portion of an $85.8 million grant given to FCA Canada by the Ontario government will enhance research at the University of Windsor – Fiat Chrysler Canada Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC).

“Collaboration between academia and industry is at the heart of innovative clusters around the world,” said Alan Wildeman, president of the University of Windsor. “The University of Windsor is proud of its 20-year partnership with FCA Canada in ARDC, the country’s largest automotive research centre. As at every university and college in Ontario, we have researchers and creative minds that want to bring solutions to the challenges and opportunities that our province’s industries are navigating.”

Nearly $17 million will support research and development at the ARDC while $69 million will fund advanced training for the workforce at the Windsor Assembly Plant and technology enhancements related to the production of the new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid—a vehicle that includes advance powertrain and light-weighting technologies designed in part by UWindsor students.

The ARDC has a direct role in the product design and engineering of nearly every product in FCA’s portfolio. The facility conducts a wide range of research, including extreme weather testing, corrosion control, precision night-time headlight testing and rigorous testing that involves millions of kilometres of road test simulation.

“We started with a $30 million investment and today we are investing over $1 billion at the ARDC,” said Reid Bigland, president of FCA Canada. “Today, this is Canada’s most sophisticated R&D facility integrated with design, innovation and manufacturing.”