Volkswagen Group of America Inc.

10/20/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2023 09:15

Volkswagen Group of America and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville extend research partnership through 2028

Oct 20, 2023

  • Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) signed a new Master Research Agreement with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) to continue the research partnership at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville through 2028.
  • The partnership currently supports 27 active research projects and has already produced 15 publications and multiple pending patents.
  • Researchers at the Innovation Hub in Knoxville are focused on bringing more materials and power electronics solutions to Volkswagen Group products to support greater sustainability in mobility.

Reston, Va. / Knoxville, Tenn. - Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville signed a new Master Research Agreement to extend their research partnership through 2028. Extending the agreement allows research to continue at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville, bringing innovations to advance sustainability and efficiencies in automotive products.

Over the past five years, the collaboration has produced 27 active research projects, 15 publications, and multiple pending patents. Researchers at the Innovation Hub work as full-time employees of VWGoA, but share time with UTK to work on their PhD dissertations. Signing this new Master Research Agreement allows that research to advance and expand, and continues this unique opportunity for PhD candidates.

"Partnering with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for research has accelerated Volkswagen Group's ability to bring practical innovations to our products," said Chuhee Lee, vice president of mobility design and technology at Volkswagen Group Innovation Center California. "With this extension, we'll be able to continue this invaluable research and bring more materials and power electronics solutions for more sustainable mobility. UTK has been an invaluable partner, bringing incredible research talent with an interest in the automotive industry and sustainability."

In 2018, Volkswagen Group of America and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville signed the first five-year Master Research Agreement, with the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville opening two years later in January 2020. VWGoA and UTK have since expanded the project to include 10- new joint research projects and additional PhD fellowship and internship positions.

"We want Tennessee, which is already a major manufacturer of automobiles, to be a destination for mobility research and innovation. That's why we are so proud to have a partner like Volkswagen Group, which is a global leader in the automotive industry," said Deb Crawford, UT's vice chancellor for research, innovation, and economic development. "Together, we leverage the real-world experience of industry and the ingenuity of UT faculty and students to solve critical problems and create the vehicles of the future."

"The partnership with Volkswagen is already one of the most fruitful industry relationships in university history, and as the partnership continues to deepen, we expect to see even more innovations making their way to market," said UT Research Foundation President Maha Krishnamurthy, who is responsible for the intellectual property management.

About Volkswagen Group of America
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. VWGoA houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen and is the sole importer and distributer of Bugatti and Rimac vehicles in the U.S. Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while VW Credit, Inc. (doing business as "Volkswagen Financial Services"), another wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, provides financial services and innovative mobility solutions.. VWGoA's headquarters are in Reston, Va. The company has approximately 10,000 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 independent dealers.

About University of Tennessee Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee's flagship public research university, UT is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT's campus-home to around 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members-is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.

"VW", "Volkswagen" and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.