Twenty years ago, a first-of-its kind partnership was forged between the automotive industry and academia. Dedicated to research development and education, the University of Windsor - Fiat Chrysler Canada Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) opened in May 1996 with a $30 million (CDN) investment.
ARDC is a crown jewel within FCA Global Engineering and has a direct role in the product design and engineering of nearly every product in the company’s portfolio. The facility also nurtures a highly skilled labour pool of student engineers. More than 500 students have passed through the facility, exposed to a hands-on industrial experience in automotive innovation while working with industry experts.
As ARDC and FCA Canada have grown together, so has the link between education, research and manufacturing. With a total research and development spend in Canada now exceeding $1 billion, the ARDC benefits all partners. The facility is equipped with six road-test simulators, proprietary software development and a range of research and development support facilities.
Research Areas
- Vehicle and System Level Durability
- Emissions and Fuel Economy
- Elastomer Characterization
- Engine Cooling System
- Automotive Lighting Research
- Steering Column and Component Development
- Steering System Durability Testing
- Design Engineering including Computer Aided Engineering
- Automotive Recycling Research
- Automotive Coatings Research
- Vehicle Safety
- Advanced Digital Tools
- Automotive Corrosion Research
Engineering Research Laboratories
- Vehicle Structural Development Lab
- Automotive Lighting Research Facility
- Elastomer Characterization Lab
- Engine Cooling Systems Lab
- Steering Column and Component Lab
- Automotive Recycling Research Facility
- Steering System Durability Test Lab
- Automotive Corrosion Research Lab
The Centre is located at 3939 Rhodes Drive in Windsor, Ontario.
