Comprising Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Mitsubishi and Daihatsu Motor along with the Japan Automobile Research Institute, the Research Association of Automotive Internal Combustion Engines (AICE) is focused on the further improvement of the fuel economy of automobiles and the reduction of tailpipe emissions and will see the participating automakers will work together to identify and present research needs that address issues and challenges facing the automakers in the area of combustion technologies for internal combustion engines and technologies which achieve cleaner tailpipe emissions. 

The group will look at issues and challenges in the areas of combustion and aftertreatment technologies, with the results of the AICE research available to be incorporated into the product development conducted by each participating automaker.

Keiji Otsu, president of AICE, said: ‘Eight Japanese automakers and one automobile research institute newly established an organization to work together to accelerate our research in the area of the environmental performance of internal combustion engines, which continues to attract global interest. Through research conducted by AICE, we would like to further increase Japan’s global competitiveness in the area of internal combustion engines. AICE also will promote collaboration among engineers and the nurturing of younger engineers of the next-generation.

‘Moreover, I hope that the initiatives of AICE will gain praise and support from an increasing number of universities, research institutions, relevant organizations and experts and spread broadly to contribute to the further advancement of industrial technologies in Japan.’