Helping hands

Engineering consulting service providers expect to help OEMs meet greater fuel efficiency and tighter emissions standards.

The challenges in automotive powertrain development may never be greater. Financial difficulties have led to cutbacks in staff and new engine development programs. At the same time, the need for improved powertrains is driven by rising gasoline prices, looming Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, and concern about greenhouse gas emissions. If OEMs indeed need to do more engineering with fewer resources to meet these challenges, consulting engineers may expect a busy future, despite the current slowdown.

Engineering consulting companies dedicated to powertrain share some things in common-smart, experienced engineers; substantial internal R&D budgets to keep them sharp; a vision of the future of automotive powertrain development that includes them. The business models they use to meet these needs can vary in some interesting ways.