Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition | C
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:23
Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition | Cal State LA Newsroom
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Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition
Cal State LA joins U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Stellantis, and MathWorks in next-generation automative workforce initiative
April 16, 2026
By
Margie Low
Photo: Cal State LA students Geoffrey Chavez and Ayaan Gulwani, along with faculty advisor Masood Shahverdi (right), pose with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee from Stellantis at the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge Launch Workshop in Detroit on April 13, 2026. (Credit: Cal State LA)
University News
Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition
Cal State LA joins U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Stellantis, and MathWorks in next-generation automative workforce initiative
April 16, 2026
By
Margie Low
Photo: Cal State LA students Geoffrey Chavez and Ayaan Gulwani, along with faculty advisor Masood Shahverdi (right), pose with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee from Stellantis at the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge Launch Workshop in Detroit on April 13, 2026. (Credit: Cal State LA)
Cal State LA has been selected as one of 20 universities in North America to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a prestigious U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program that prepares the next generation of engineers to lead the future of transportation.
Cal State LA is the only university representing California in this four-year competition, which challenges students to design and build advanced mobility solutions using cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and exascale computing.
Managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is the 15th installment of DOE’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC) series. The program provides an unparalleled, hands-on educational experience that has transformed the traditional classroom environment into a hub for automotive innovation.
“We are especially proud that Cal State LA is the only university in the state selected among 20 top institutions to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge,” said Masood Shahverdi, lead faculty advisor for EcoCAR at Cal State LA. “This opportunity will empower our students to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving automotive and AI landscape.”
Other faculty advisors on the Cal State LA EcoCAR team include Chris Bachman, professor of mechanical engineering; David Blekhman, professor of technology; and Curtis Wang, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
This challenge marks a historic collaboration between two major automakers—General Motors (GM) and Stellantis—alongside technology partner MathWorks. Together with DOE and Argonne, the coalition aims to cultivate a highly skilled workforce and accelerate innovation in the U.S. auto industry.
“The Innovation Challenge is an investment in the next era of the American workforce,” said DOE’s Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. “This unprecedented collaboration between GM and Stellantis underscores the importance of building a skilled U.S. workforce and promoting innovation. We hope to fast-track technological breakthroughs, improve the competitiveness of the American auto industry, and expand the range of options available to American consumers.”
Participating teams will explore advanced propulsion system modifications, including the integration of electric motor systems and team-designed high-voltage batteries. Each automaker sponsors a distinct competition track, providing students with hands-on experience using industry-relevant vehicle platforms.
The Cal State LA team will compete in the Stellantis track, working with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid to gain experience integrating software, control systems, advanced powertrains, and user-centered design—skills critical to shaping the future of mobility.
“Our students don’t just learn theory—they gain hands-on experience developing the skill sets that simply can’t be replicated in a traditional classroom,” said Shahverdi, who is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ECST). “Having served as a technical advisor in EcoCAR 3 and the Battery Workforce Challenge, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative these programs are—students grow tremendously and go on to secure strong career opportunities.”
In addition to the engineering work, the College of Business and Economics will support Cal State LA students and faculty involved in the business aspects of the competition throughout the duration of the program.
Cal State LA enters the competition with a proven track record in DOE’s EcoCAR program, including a second-place overall finish in EcoCAR 2 (2011–2014) for redesigning a Chevrolet Malibu into a plug-in hybrid. The university was later selected as one of only 16 institutions—and the only Los Angeles representative—for EcoCAR 3 (2014–2018), which also received the South Coast Air Quality Management District Clean Air Education and Outreach Award.
“Being selected for the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge underscores Cal State LA’s leadership in mobility,” said ECST Dean Nancy Warter-Perez. “With more than three decades of student innovation in advanced transportation technologies—from Solar Eagle to EcoCAR and the Battery Workforce Challenge—our continued partnership with Stellantis helps prepare our students to lead the future of transportation and the evolving mobility workforce.”
Please watch the
EcoCar Innovation Challenge video
for a recap of this year’s team and vehicle announcement.
About EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
The
EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
is a DOE-sponsored Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition managed by Argonne National Laboratory. The program challenges university teams to apply cutting-edge engineering to real vehicles while developing the technical, leadership, and project management skills needed for careers in automotive engineering, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.
Additional partners and sponsors include MathWorks, Caterpillar, Siemens Digital Industries Software, dSPACE, Bosch, Altec, Hesse, and Volta Foundation.
About Cal State LA
California State University, Los Angeles
is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
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Close
University News
Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition
Cal State LA joins U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Stellantis, and MathWorks in next-generation automative workforce initiative
April 16, 2026
By
Margie Low
Photo: Cal State LA students Geoffrey Chavez and Ayaan Gulwani, along with faculty advisor Masood Shahverdi (right), pose with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee from Stellantis at the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge Launch Workshop in Detroit on April 13, 2026. (Credit: Cal State LA)
University News
Cal State LA selected for EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, North America’s premier collegiate automotive engineering competition
Cal State LA joins U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Stellantis, and MathWorks in next-generation automative workforce initiative
April 16, 2026
By
Margie Low
Photo: Cal State LA students Geoffrey Chavez and Ayaan Gulwani, along with faculty advisor Masood Shahverdi (right), pose with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee from Stellantis at the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge Launch Workshop in Detroit on April 13, 2026. (Credit: Cal State LA)
Cal State LA has been selected as one of 20 universities in North America to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a prestigious U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program that prepares the next generation of engineers to lead the future of transportation.
Cal State LA is the only university representing California in this four-year competition, which challenges students to design and build advanced mobility solutions using cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and exascale computing.
Managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is the 15th installment of DOE’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC) series. The program provides an unparalleled, hands-on educational experience that has transformed the traditional classroom environment into a hub for automotive innovation.
“We are especially proud that Cal State LA is the only university in the state selected among 20 top institutions to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge,” said Masood Shahverdi, lead faculty advisor for EcoCAR at Cal State LA. “This opportunity will empower our students to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving automotive and AI landscape.”
Other faculty advisors on the Cal State LA EcoCAR team include Chris Bachman, professor of mechanical engineering; David Blekhman, professor of technology; and Curtis Wang, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
This challenge marks a historic collaboration between two major automakers—General Motors (GM) and Stellantis—alongside technology partner MathWorks. Together with DOE and Argonne, the coalition aims to cultivate a highly skilled workforce and accelerate innovation in the U.S. auto industry.
“The Innovation Challenge is an investment in the next era of the American workforce,” said DOE’s Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE) Audrey Robertson. “This unprecedented collaboration between GM and Stellantis underscores the importance of building a skilled U.S. workforce and promoting innovation. We hope to fast-track technological breakthroughs, improve the competitiveness of the American auto industry, and expand the range of options available to American consumers.”
Participating teams will explore advanced propulsion system modifications, including the integration of electric motor systems and team-designed high-voltage batteries. Each automaker sponsors a distinct competition track, providing students with hands-on experience using industry-relevant vehicle platforms.
The Cal State LA team will compete in the Stellantis track, working with a 2026 Jeep Cherokee hybrid to gain experience integrating software, control systems, advanced powertrains, and user-centered design—skills critical to shaping the future of mobility.
“Our students don’t just learn theory—they gain hands-on experience developing the skill sets that simply can’t be replicated in a traditional classroom,” said Shahverdi, who is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ECST). “Having served as a technical advisor in EcoCAR 3 and the Battery Workforce Challenge, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative these programs are—students grow tremendously and go on to secure strong career opportunities.”
In addition to the engineering work, the College of Business and Economics will support Cal State LA students and faculty involved in the business aspects of the competition throughout the duration of the program.
Cal State LA enters the competition with a proven track record in DOE’s EcoCAR program, including a second-place overall finish in EcoCAR 2 (2011–2014) for redesigning a Chevrolet Malibu into a plug-in hybrid. The university was later selected as one of only 16 institutions—and the only Los Angeles representative—for EcoCAR 3 (2014–2018), which also received the South Coast Air Quality Management District Clean Air Education and Outreach Award.
“Being selected for the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge underscores Cal State LA’s leadership in mobility,” said ECST Dean Nancy Warter-Perez. “With more than three decades of student innovation in advanced transportation technologies—from Solar Eagle to EcoCAR and the Battery Workforce Challenge—our continued partnership with Stellantis helps prepare our students to lead the future of transportation and the evolving mobility workforce.”
Please watch the
EcoCar Innovation Challenge video
for a recap of this year’s team and vehicle announcement.
About EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
The
EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
is a DOE-sponsored Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition managed by Argonne National Laboratory. The program challenges university teams to apply cutting-edge engineering to real vehicles while developing the technical, leadership, and project management skills needed for careers in automotive engineering, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.
Additional partners and sponsors include MathWorks, Caterpillar, Siemens Digital Industries Software, dSPACE, Bosch, Altec, Hesse, and Volta Foundation.
About Cal State LA
California State University, Los Angeles
is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
Have a story to share?
Have a story worth sharing? Let us know what’s happening in your classroom, community, or career. We’d love to hear from you.
Share Your Story
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Chicano group Tierra Legacy returns to Cal State LA for First Annual Car Show and Community Festival
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Cal State LA will host a special performance by Chicano group Tierra Legacy during the First Annual Car Show and Community Festival, bringing the sound of one of East Los Angeles’ most influential bands back to the campus where its history began. Tierra Legacy, the...
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Judge Songhai Armstead fired off a final question that doubled as a call to action for the 400 audience members gathered at The Luckman for Cal State LA’s annual Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI) Convening Fair on Thursday, April 9. Serving as moderator of the...
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