CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
23 September 2013
Company News
North America’s most Successful Solar Car Team Turns to Siemens to Pursue World Title
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team, already the most successful team in North America, is relying on product lifecycle management (PLM) software technology from Siemens to help in its quest to claim the world title this October at the World Solar Challenge in Australia. After winning the American Solar Challenge seven times, and placing third in the World Solar Challenge four times, this entirely student-run organization decided it needed more advanced product development software technology to compete at an even higher level. As a result, 100 percent of the mechanical components and aerodynamic body (aerobody) of Generation – the team’s 2013 entry for the World Challenge – have been designed using Siemens NX™ software.
“Our teams have a rich tradition of excellence and a great track record of success,” said Pavan Naik, Senior Business Development Manager, University of Michigan Solar Car Team. “But as we began to prepare to compete with the best teams in the world in 2013, we knew we needed more comprehensive PLM software technology. The breadth of functionality for design, simulation and aerodynamic surface modeling in NX are far beyond anything we have used in the past. Siemens’ PLM software helped us with the rapid decision making needed in solar car development and should help maximize our chance to cross the finish line first in Australia. We are proud to leverage the same product development technology used by so many leading automotive companies.”
Siemens PLM Software technology is now used throughout product development and manufacturing by more than 90 percent of the world’s top 15 automotive OEMs and nearly 90 percent of the top 25 Tier One auto suppliers. The company provided an in-kind software grant for – and is also proud to be a new platinum sponsor of – the University of Michigan Solar Car Team. Since its establishment in 1990, the team has built 12 vehicles including Generation, which is being prepared for the 1,800 mile World Solar Challenge race across the Outback on Oct. 6-13. The team, which consists of almost 100 members, spent nearly two years and more than one million dollars to complete the development of Generation.
“As a strong supporter of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, Siemens is proud to be associated with the highly successful University of Michigan Solar Car Team,” said Dave Taylor, vice president of Global Marketing, Siemens PLM Software. “We are pleased that they have decided to adopt our advanced PLM technology to elevate their performance to the next level. Over the long run, we are confident it will help them continue to make smarter decisions that advance alternate energy technology and ultimately lead to better products. We wish the team the best of luck in Australia.”
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