February 4, 2026
Which 10 automotive competitions or challenges are fostering innovation and new technologies?

Which 10 automotive competitions or challenges are fostering innovation and new technologies?

1. DARPA Grand Challenge: This is an annual competition aimed at advancing self-driving car technology. It challenges teams to develop autonomous vehicles that can navigate without any human intervention across a difficult course.

2. Formula SAE: Also known as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula Student, this competition challenges student teams to design, build, and race an open-wheel race car.

3. Shell Eco-marathon: This competition invites students to design and build ultra-energy-efficient cars that can travel the furthest distance using the least amount of energy.

4. World Solar Challenge: This is a bi-annual competition in which teams from around the world race solar-powered cars across a 3,000 km track in the Australian outback.

5. Roborace: This is the world’s first driverless electric racing series, where teams compete using autonomous vehicles that are equipped with advanced sensors and technologies.

6. Automotive X-Prize: This competition challenged teams to design and build production-capable vehicles that could travel 100 miles on a gallon of fuel or its equivalent.

7. Electrathon: This is a competition that challenges students to design and build electric vehicles that can travel the greatest distance within an allotted time using a limited amount of battery power.

8. Bridgestone World Solar Challenge: This is a solar-powered car race spanning across the Australian continent. The challenge aims to promote sustainable vehicle development.

9. Urban Challenge: This competition by DARPA seeks to develop autonomous vehicles capable of safely navigating through urban areas.

10. EcoCAR Challenge: This is a three-year competition that challenges teams to re-engineer a General Motors vehicle with advanced propulsion systems, energy storage, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies.