International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP) Co-Director John Paul MacDuffie announced at the Sept. 10-11, 2001 international research workshop that Honda Motor Company has renewed its support for the next three years.

Researchers from the 20 current IMVP projects shared new work with an international gathering of scholars and industry representatives from the U.K., Europe, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, and the U.S.

During the workshop, Frits K. Pil, University of Pittsburgh, spoke about the ongoing Assembly Plant research. Cardiff Business School researcher Matthias Holweg, who is working on the 3-Day Car Project, discussed critical delays in processing build-to-order vehicles. CTPID's Sebastian Fixson discussed optional paths toward modularity. Professor Koichi Shimokawa of Hosei University presented an overview of current IMVP research in Japan. Professor Charles Fine proposed hypotheses on value chain perspectives on the rising role of telematics.

At dinner, Associate Dean of Engineering Systems Daniel Roos, an IMVP founder, shared highlights of a major new study of worldwide mobility trends commissioned by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Mobility 2001 presents a snapshot of current mobility options worldwide. Among the findings are seven grand challenges: ensure transportation systems support economic development and quality of life; adapt the personal use motor vehicle to future needs; reinvent public transit; reinvent mobility infrastructure management; dramatically reduce carbon emissions; resolve competition between personal and freight transportation, and anticipate and resolve congestion in inter-city transportation.