General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) have joined the Challenge as sponsors, along with technology partner MathWorks. This combination of government and industry partners focuses on cultivating the next generation of auto-industry innovators. This is the first collaboration between two major automakers in the same series in more than 25 years. Additional EcoCAR Innovation Challenge sponsors announced today include Caterpillar, Siemens Digital Industries Software, dSPACE, Bosch, Altec, Hesse, and Volta Foundation.

In addition to their use of emerging technologies, participating teams will explore modifications to the vehicle propulsion system to optimize efficiency through the design and integration of electric motor systems and team-built, high-voltage batteries. GM and Stellantis will each sponsor one of the two competition tracks, which provide distinct engineering challenges and vehicle platforms that reflect the choices available to North American customers.