In 1989, Hitachi America R&D opened its first lab, the Automotive Products Research Laboratory (APL), in Michigan.  APL's research concentrates on low-emission vehicle components and automotive electronics for the North American market in collaboration with Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. We are strategically located in the Motor City to be close to our main U.S. automotive customers. This will allow closer interaction for engineering, research and direct interfacing with our local customers. The scope of the technical work is to introduce new concepts for vehicle electronics and emission reducing components. Our activities include projects on digital manufacturing, embedded system development for automotive controllers, system modeling, vehicle navigation and emission related components.

APL consists of many full time Researchers. Our lab also operates an internship program for university students that are enrolled in advanced engineering or science. Our engineers have access to our state of the art facilities such as a simulation lab, engine dynamometers, exhaust emission lab and an EMC test facility.

Research Topics:

1.  ADSTEFAN - Casting Simulation software

2.  X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT)

3.  Hitachi Magnesium Alloy - HITMAG

4.  Friction Stir Welding (FSW)

5.  SULEV (Super-Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) Device

6.  Telematics and Navigation

7.  Mechatronics

8.  Zero-Hand Coding