Embry-Riddle Chosen to Compete in 4-Year EcoCar Innovation Challenge

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been selected as one of just 20 universities nationwide to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a four-year collegiate competition focused on the future of the automotive industry. Led by a consortium that includes General Motors, Stellantis, the US Department of Energy and MathWorks, and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the program will bring together top student teams from across North America when it launches in fall 2026.

At Embry-Riddle, the effort will be led by the Mechanical Engineering and Human Factors departments, where students will take on the challenge of redesigning a car. Over the course of the competition, the team will work on everything from electric propulsion to software integration, gaining hands-on experience while operating much like an automotive company.

“This is the kind of opportunity that changes how students see their future,” said Patrick Currier, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “They won’t just be learning concepts in the classroom, they’ll be building, testing and making real decisions as part of a national program. Embry-Riddle has been involved with EcoCAR for 18 years, and our students have won awards in almost every part of the competition. I am excited to see what the team can accomplish over the next four years.”

Each student team will receive either a General Motors or Stellantis vehicle and will redesign and rebuild it over the course of four years. Embry-Riddle was among the top schools selected to the General Motors track and will work on a Chevrolet Blazer EV. The team of 50+ students will design a new electric powertrain and add sensors and automated features such as connected adaptive cruise control and automated intersection navigation.

The competition also includes a Product Innovation Track, where students will act like startup companies to develop novel solutions to transportation problems. At Embry-Riddle, this effort will be led by Human Factors students who will take a human-centered approach to improving the way people interact with their vehicles.

“I am thrilled that the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology will once again compete as part of the Embry-Riddle EcoCAR Team,” said Dr. Jayathi Raghavan, interim dean, College of Arts and Sciences. “This initiative offers our students invaluable hands-on experience in the transportation sector while driving critical Human Factors research in autonomous and software-defined vehicle technologies.”