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Altair Engineering Inc.’s (Troy, Mich., U.S.)  is now open for submissions. Presented annually in conjunction with the  (CAR, Mich., U.S.), the award honors some of the greatest sustainability and lightweighting advancements in the automotive industry that aim to reduce carbon footprint, mitigate water and energy consumption, and leverage material reuse and recycling efforts. 

Over the years, several composites-related innovations have been recognized and featured as Altair Enlighten Award winners — from seatbacks and suspension steering knuckles to leaf springs, seats and vehicle body structures.

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“Without advanced technologies we would not see the innovation that characterizes the modern automotive industry,” says James R. Scapa, founder and CEO, Altair. “The Enlighten Award honors these innovations, technologies and organizations.”

The Enlighten Award categories are:

• Sustainable Product – Recognizes a production vehicle (or major system module) embracing emissions reduction, lightweighting, material circularity and safety advances
• Sustainable Process – Recognizes processes that enable emissions reductions, material reuse and/or recycling and water conservation during manufacturing or engineering phases
• Module Lightweighting – Recognizes mass reduction of a vehicle module, subsystem or component
• Enabling Technology – Recognizes technology advancements that enable vehicle lightweighting, including a material, production process, design method or joining technology
• Future of Lightweighting – Recognizes a process, material or technology not in production, but has significant potential to advance vehicle lightweighting
• Responsible AI – Recognizes responsible AI deployment throughout the automotive value chain — from design, engineering and operation to production and in-service use
• Sustainable Computing – Recognizes implementing practices and technologies that prioritize energy efficiency, renewable energy use, reducing environmental impact and contributing to more sustainable and eco-friendly computing.

“Regardless of how large or small your company is, how established you are or what you specialize in, all that matters is how you are advancing automotive sustainability,” says Andrew Brown Jr., chairman of CAR’s board of directors.

Enlighten Award submissions must be received by June 16, 2025. . Winners will be announced during an award ceremony on Sept. 16, 2025, at the annual CAR MBS event. This year, MBS returns to the heart of the American automotive industry — Detroit, Michigan — at the historic Michigan Central Station.

Media partners for the 2025 Altair Enlighten Award include SAE, Automotive Engineering, Tech Briefs, Automobil Industrie, Autocar Professional, KSAE, AutoBild Japan, Auto Messe Web and Auto Messe Web Worldwide.