PACE Award


The PACE Award is an annual award from Automotive News. The focus of the award is an innovation developed primarily by a supplier, that is new to the automotive industry, that is in use, and that "changes the rules of the game". Awards have been given for products, materials, processes, capital equipment, software and services. A panel of independent judges from industry, finance, research, and academia choose finalists from the initial applicants, make site visits to evaluate the innovation, and then gather to select winners, independent of the sponsors. Winners to date include suppliers from Japan, Korea, China, the US, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and other European countries. Among the most awarded companies over the years are BorgWarner, Delphi Automotive, Federal-Mogul, Valeo and PPG Industries as well as Robert Bosch GmbH, Gentex Corporation, and Siemens.
Automotive News and Ernst & Young founded the program, which gave out the first awards in 1995 to celebrate innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. The black-tie awards ceremony has been held just prior to the annual SAE convention in Detroit. The costs of the program are paid by a combination of application fees and money from sponsors. For the 2019-20 the sponsors were Deloitte, APMA and Invest Canada. Historically the annual award cycle began with gathering applications ; the selection of 30-35 finalists, who were announced at the auto industry's annual Global Leadership Conference in October at the Greenbrier; site visits by judges in November and December; the selection of winners in late January or early February; and the announcement of winners at a black tie event in Detroit in March or April.
For the 2019–2020 award cycle PACE added recognition as a PACE Pilot, which targeted pre-commercial innovations, to try to capture the rise of innovations tied to safety, fuel efficiency, vehicle electrification and driving assist/driving automation. This award attempts to capture innovations earlier in the development cycle, e.g. when they show up in announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Awards programs such as PACE are potential sources for studying the nature of technological change. One such attempt is in Smitka and Warrian. In Chapter6, "Automotive Innovation Model and the Supply Chain: PACE Awards", they find that:
"The results indicate that technology-pull is dominant, not technology-push. We do observe some innovation that seems to represent using new materials to implement a well-understood approach that was not previously cost-effective or otherwise was not used. We also find the occasional bright idea that in some cases could have been implemented decades ago, had anyone thought to try. However, overall we find that new vehicle technologies are responses to regulatory pressure to improve safety, limit emissions, and improve fuel efficiency."
Similarly, David Andrea notes in Forbes that:
"While the popular press is having an interesting debate on whether Detroit or Silicon Valley will have the greatest influence over the mobility revolution, the 2019 PACE awards are dominated by the suppliers with the deepest R&D capabilities and longest histories of commercializing innovation. Reviewing the finalists, it is interesting that the vast majority, 26 of the 31 come from what would be considered "traditional suppliers." And only 6 of the firms are located outside 100 miles of industry's Detroit epicenter. Perhaps this is the result of selection bias as the process to submit applications, meet with judges, produce promotional materials and the like is not small in budget of executive time and funds, two resources always in short supply in smaller firms or start-ups."

1990s

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000s

2000

2001

Product Innovation:
Information Technology/Internet:
  • Delphi Automotive - Math Based Metal Removal software
  • Quality Measurement Control - CM4D Analyze software system
Management Practice:
Manufacturing Process:
  • Nucap Industries - NUCAP Retention System
Europe:
Open Category - Enduring Innovations:
  • Shape Corporation - Tubular High Strength Swept Bumpers
Open Category - Environmental:
  • BASF - Integrated Process

2002

Product Innovation:
Europe:
Information Technology:
  • Engineous Software - iSight software for process integration and design optimization

2003

Product Innovation:
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
  • Bishop Steering Technology - Warm Forging Die and Integrated Automatic Precision Forging Cell
  • Dürr AG - RoDip 3 electro-coating
  • The POM Group - RapiDIES foam forming process
  • Robert Bosch GmbH - Cassette Chrome Plating Process
Information Technology & Services:
  • Perceptron Inc. - AutoGauge FMS In-Process Measuring System

2004

Product Innovation:
  • Delphi Delco Electronics Systems - Delphi Forewarn Back-up Aid and Side Alert
  • Denso - Very High Pressure Solenoid Fuel Injection System
  • Johnson Controls - Overhead Rail Vehicle Personalization System
  • Visteon - Long Life Filtration Systems
Product Europe:
Process:
  • BASF - ColorCARE software for controlling and comparing paint color
  • DuPont - Wet on Wet Two Tone Products
  • Filter Specialists - FERRX 5000 magnetic separation device to remove ferrous particles of the initial, e-coat, prior to the application of base coat paint
Information Technology:
  • AutoForm Engineering - DieDesigner Stamping FEA Simulation Geometry Generation
  • Delphi Automotive - horizontal modeling and digital process design for CAD/CAM
  • Motorola - VIAMOTO navigation system

2005

Product:
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
Information Technology & Services:
Innovative OEM Collaborator Awards:

2006

Product:
Product Europe:
  • Preh Automotive - Windshield Defogging Sensor
  • Tenneco - Low Cost, Low Weight Muffler
  • Valeo - StARS Micro-Hybrd system
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
  • Dow Automotive - Betamate LESA Adhesive System
  • PosiCharge - Battery Charging System
Information Technology:
  • CogniTens - OptiCell Non-Contact Measuring System for quality control inspection
Innovative OEM Collaborator Awards:

2007

Product:
  • Alcoa - Dura-Bright Wheels with XBR Technology
  • Autoliv - Safety Vent Airbag
  • Federal-Mogul Corporation - HTA Exhaust Gaskets
  • Halla Climate Control Corp - Wave Blade Fan and Saw Tooth Shroud
  • Valeo - Multi-Beam Radar Blind-Zone Radar Sensor
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
Information Technology:
  • RTT USA - RTT DeltaGen visualization toolset
  • Tenneco - Diesel Aftertreatment Predictive Development Process
Innovative OEM Collaborator Awards:

2008

Product:
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
  • PPG Industries - Green Logic Paint Detackification Process
  • Webasto - Panoramic Polycarbonate Roof Module
Information Technology and Services:
Innovation Partnership Awards:

2009

Product:
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
  • Alcoa - Alcoa's Vacuum Die Casting for Lightweight Door Assemblies
  • Henkel - Bonderite TecTalis Pre-treatment Process
Information Technology & Services:
Innovation Partnership Awards:

2010s

2010

Product:
Product Europe:
Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment:
Informatian Technology & Services:
Innovation PArtnership Awards:

2011

Product:
Manufacturing Process:
Innovative Partnership Awards:

2012

Product:
Manufacturing Process:
  • Delphi Automotive - Delphi Thermal Multi Port Folded Tube Condenser
  • Federal-Mogul Corporation - Two-Dimensional Ultrasonic Testing for Raised Gallery Diesel Pistons
  • Nalco Company - APEX Program-Sustainable Technology for Paint Detackification
  • PPG Industries - B1 and B2 Compact Process Paint Technology
  • 3M/Esys Automation - Robotic Production System with Wheel Weights for Precision Tire and Wheel Balancing
Innovation Partnership Awards:

2013

Product
Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment
  • Federal-Mogul - Injection Molding of High Modulus Bonded Pistons used in High Pressure Transmissions
  • Schuler Hydroforming Division - Hydroforming and Global Die Standardization Process
Information Technology
  • Hughes Telematics - Automotive Software Remote Update Technology
Innovation Partnership Winners

2014

Product
Manufacturing Process and Capital Equipment
  • ArcelorMittal and Magna-Cosma International - Chicago - Laser Ablation Process
  • Henkel Corporation - Madison Heights, Mich. - BONDERITE® 2798™ Process for High Aluminum
  • TI Automotive - Auburn Hills, Mich. - Adaptable Plastic Fuel Tank Advanced Process Technology for all vehicle powertrains
Innovation Partnership Winners

2015

2020s

2020