BMW sponsors Clemson Deep Orange 17 project

BMW of North America will be the primary sponsor of Clemson University’s Deep Orange 17, the latest iteration of the vehicle prototyping program.

Deep Orange is a framework within the university’s Department of Automotive Engineering that immerses graduate students in an environment intended to mirror a real-world automaker or Tier-1 supplier. The program brings students, faculty and industry partners together to design, engineer and build a fully functional concept vehicle.

“Deep Orange is an incredibly unique program that prepares students to make an impact on the industry from day one,” Greg Mocko, Deep Orange program director, said in a news release. “We’re proud to have a partner in BMW that is not only investing financially, but has been generous with its time, expertise, and mentorship of our students. While we’ve unveiled some remarkable prototype vehicles, the best product from this program is always the students.”

For Deep Orange 17, a team of 25 graduate students is collaborating with BMW engineers to develop a solar-integrated, energy-positive electric vehicle concept. The concept would redefine vehicle efficiency by producing more energy than it consumes over a standard 24-hour commuting cycle, according to the news release. The project launched at the beginning of 2025, with the prototype scheduled to be unveiled this August.

“Clemson University is the only institution we know of where master’s students design and build a fully functional prototype vehicle in less than two years,” said Stephan Augustin, project manager of research and new technologies at BMW. “The talent and vehicles coming out of this program are amazing, and we haven’t seen anything else quite like it.”

BMW was a founding partner of CU-ICAR, helping to establish Clemson’s Department of Automotive Engineering and the world’s first Ph.D. program in automotive engineering. Since then, the company has been a long-standing supporter of Deep Orange and has previously served as the primary sponsor for four projects, according to the release. Earlier collaborations include concepts focused on Gen-Y mobility (DO1), human-machine interface innovation (DO2), a next-generation SUV design (DO4), and a reimagined MINI experience (DO7).

“We are grateful for the incredible partnership we have with BMW,” said David Clayton, executive director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. “Beyond Deep Orange, BMW has invested in student scholarships and fellowships, collaborated on numerous research initiatives, and was a founding partner of CU-ICAR in 2007.” BMW’s Information Technology Research Center is located on the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville.