The Southeastern United States is the second-largest automobile manufacturing region in the country, with more than 3,000 automotive suppliers and 10 major automotive assembly plants.
 
The Automotive Research Alliance is a technological problem solving clearinghouse that provides the automotive industry with access to research funding and a vast collection of automotive-focused scientists, engineers, researchers, laboratories, and equipment.

The alliance utilizes research from: University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University, Clemson University, Mississippi State University, University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.