Tennessee Students Joined Automotive Innovation Contest
Engineering students in Knoxville have begun a four-year challenge to modernize a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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More than 100 students from the University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering have entered a four-year automotive innovation competition. The team is modifying a Jeep Grand Cherokee as they compete against 19 other universities across North America.
Why it matters
The program tasks students with developing energy-efficient solutions for the automotive industry through the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced propulsion systems. It serves as a testing ground for future engineering talent sponsored by major manufacturers.
The Tennessee team must complete 30 specific deliverables for Stellantis within the first year of the program. This competition includes 20 total universities from across North America.
The players
University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering
This is the engineering school within the University of Tennessee where the participating student team is based.
U.S. Department of Energy
This federal agency administers the automotive competition program in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory.
General Motors
This multinational automotive manufacturing corporation acts as a sponsor for the four-year engineering challenge.
Stellantis
This automotive group sponsors the competition and sets the performance deliverables for the participating university teams.
The details
The Knoxville-based team works by integrating emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, connected vehicle systems, and advanced propulsion into the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform. Students manage collaborative tasks and complex engineering requirements to meet the project standards.
Timeline
1988: Tennessee won the first EcoCAR Challenge.
September 2026: The Tennessee team attended a competition conference in Atlanta.
2030: The competition winners will be decided.
Roadmap
This project reflects the broader transition in the automotive industry toward software-defined vehicles and electrification. By prioritizing artificial intelligence and advanced propulsion, the competition prepares the next generation of engineers for an industry moving away from traditional internal combustion.
This competition influences the talent pipeline and research priorities that eventually trickle down to commercial vehicle manufacturing. Readers may see future features like advanced connectivity or efficiency improvements in consumer cars that originate from these research programs.
The takeaway
Participation in these long-term industry challenges allows students to gain hands-on experience with the same propulsion technologies appearing in modern consumer vehicles. Engaging with such programs provides a unique window into the future of automotive design and energy efficiency.
What happens next
The competition will continue with annual assessments through 2030, when the final championship winners are determined.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Electric Vehicles section.
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