Brett Smith joined CAR in 2000 after 12 years at the University of Michigan’s Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT). In his current role, Mr. Smith is responsible for enabling CAR and the organizations researchers to achieve automotive industry thought leadership by collaborating with innovators and strategic thinkers from industry, academia, and government.

During his career, Mr. Smith research has spanned many critical aspects of the automotive industry.  He actively researched vehicle and component manufacturing; materials forecasting; product development and analysis; supplier--manufacturer relations; technology development; facility location analysis; product launch strategy and human resource and talent issues.  Mr. Smith’s recent research and leadership activities have focused on the challenges and opportunities of implementing innovative technologies and services in the automotive industry.

From 2012 through 2018, Mr. Smith has also served as Co-Director Strategy, CAR Management Briefing Seminars.  In that role, he has guided strategic planning for the CAR Management Briefing Seminars and other CAR conference activities. Mr. Smith was the chair of the Business of Plugging In, a Plug in Electric Vehicle conference in Detroit, Michigan (2009-2011). Mr. Smith was also active as a labor educator for 15 years. 

He received a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University and spent nearly 35 years studying the most dynamic consumer product and the industry that builds them.