The Commerce of Cars in Central Europe: From Creation to Cargo

- 3 credits/IET 490

- Enjoy Bavarian and Dutch cuisine and culture at its most authentic

- Gain experiences, insight, and knowledge related to the post-pandemic, AI-driven global supply chain

 *Erasmus University students joining on several tours tbd

This 3-credit study abroad will explore Stuttgart, Germany; Munich, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands

Go to jimmtanoos.com for full trip reports from past study abroads, and you can also go here for daily student reflections over the years of study abroads in these German and Dutch cities since 2017.  You will get a good feel for the vibe of the trip based on these student posts.  You can also check out last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip) here.  Enrollment will close when the maximum threshold of students is reached.

Trip Synopsis:

This two-week, 3-credit Maymester study abroad follows the multinational automobile supply chain from the assembly of components (Stuttgart and Munich, Germany) to the final export and shipping process (Rotterdam, Netherlands).  Applied learning topics associated with Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing of multinational automobiles will be experienced, including a collaborative session with undergraduate peers at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus University, and three of the three of the four multinational automobile factory tours (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, and Audi) to study production techniques and how Industry 4.0 is impacting the manufacture of these vehicles.  Students will also take a bicyle tour of the largest port in Europe to see firsthand how the vehicles are shipped across the globe.  Cultural activities are an essential part of the curriculum, and students will learn how to utilize and get around via various modes of public transportation.

Rotterdam, Netherlands and Munich, Germany have rich histories of industrial competitiveness in the international marketplace, and their economies are thriving in large part due to the impact of their international automobile supply chains.  The program costs includes all activities from when the trip starts in the lobby of our Stuttgart hotel to our private coach to the Schipol airport. 

-

Feel free to go to last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip here)

Contact Dr. James Tanoos (jtanoos@purdue.edu, or 317-989-7726) for more information.  I have a powerpoint that shares more.

This is a Maymester class and will hit your bursar's account at the time of your other classes before the start of the summer semester in early May.  If you register for aditional summer course, the 6 credits will allow you to be eligible for full-time student status over the summer session.  Whatever payment method is in place for your classes will be the same method that this trip is paid.  It will just hit your bursar's account like an expensive class.

The program fee will be approximately $3,500, which includes trains, hotels, tours/excursions, city public transportation passes, and any other transportation, plus the typical $350 study abroad fee.  Basically, this covers everything on the trip except for lunches and most dinners.  The trip starts at the hotel lobby in Stuttgart (you can arrive early if you want) and ends at the Amsterdam airport (or you can stay late if you want), and the trip will cover all costs in-between.  Flights are paid separately by the student with the itinerary determined by the student, but the costs of the flight are added to student loans, etc.  Please check with the Division of Financial Aid to determine how financial aid can apply to your program expenses.  This is a military-friendly trip so inquire about how the GI bill applies to this trip.

Upon enrollment, students will immediately be added to brightspace where they can connect with other students about flight options.  It is becoming more and more common that students arrive on the continent a few days early and/or stay a few days late.  Most students depart out of Chicago or Indy.  Via brightspace, you can also go through the course syllabus and catch up on course announcements.  Students may still drop the study abroad before the $500 deposit is due at no penalty (a "W" won't show up on your transcript or anything).   

In December 2025, the faculty host (Jim) developed and published several articles on websites on topics related to the trip that you can check out.  The first is entitled Driving Regional Economic Prosperity: Modern-Day Automobile Clusters and Their OEM Supply Chains and the second is entitled The Essential Model of Collaborations in the Post-Pandemic Automobile Supply Chain to Avoid Bottlenecks.

All students are encouraged to register for the The Global Leaps Scholarship

The Commerce of Cars in Central Europe: From Creation to Cargo

- 3 credits/IET 490

- Enjoy Bavarian and Dutch cuisine and culture at its most authentic

- Gain experiences, insight, and knowledge related to the post-pandemic, AI-driven global supply chain

 *Erasmus University students joining on several tours tbd

This 3-credit study abroad will explore Stuttgart, Germany; Munich, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands

Go to jimmtanoos.com for full trip reports from past study abroads, and you can also go here for daily student reflections over the years of study abroads in these German and Dutch cities since 2017.  You will get a good feel for the vibe of the trip based on these student posts.  You can also check out last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip) here.  Enrollment will close when the maximum threshold of students is reached.

Trip Synopsis:

This two-week, 3-credit Maymester study abroad follows the multinational automobile supply chain from the assembly of components (Stuttgart and Munich, Germany) to the final export and shipping process (Rotterdam, Netherlands).  Applied learning topics associated with Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing of multinational automobiles will be experienced, including a collaborative session with undergraduate peers at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus University, and three of the three of the four multinational automobile factory tours (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, and Audi) to study production techniques and how Industry 4.0 is impacting the manufacture of these vehicles.  Students will also take a bicyle tour of the largest port in Europe to see firsthand how the vehicles are shipped across the globe.  Cultural activities are an essential part of the curriculum, and students will learn how to utilize and get around via various modes of public transportation.

Rotterdam, Netherlands and Munich, Germany have rich histories of industrial competitiveness in the international marketplace, and their economies are thriving in large part due to the impact of their international automobile supply chains.  The program costs includes all activities from when the trip starts in the lobby of our Stuttgart hotel to our private coach to the Schipol airport. 

-

Feel free to go to last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip here)

Contact Dr. James Tanoos (jtanoos@purdue.edu, or 317-989-7726) for more information.  I have a powerpoint that shares more.

This is a Maymester class and will hit your bursar's account at the time of your other classes before the start of the summer semester in early May.  If you register for aditional summer course, the 6 credits will allow you to be eligible for full-time student status over the summer session.  Whatever payment method is in place for your classes will be the same method that this trip is paid.  It will just hit your bursar's account like an expensive class.

The program fee will be approximately $3,500, which includes trains, hotels, tours/excursions, city public transportation passes, and any other transportation, plus the typical $350 study abroad fee.  Basically, this covers everything on the trip except for lunches and most dinners.  The trip starts at the hotel lobby in Stuttgart (you can arrive early if you want) and ends at the Amsterdam airport (or you can stay late if you want), and the trip will cover all costs in-between.  Flights are paid separately by the student with the itinerary determined by the student, but the costs of the flight are added to student loans, etc.  Please check with the Division of Financial Aid to determine how financial aid can apply to your program expenses.  This is a military-friendly trip so inquire about how the GI bill applies to this trip.

Upon enrollment, students will immediately be added to brightspace where they can connect with other students about flight options.  It is becoming more and more common that students arrive on the continent a few days early and/or stay a few days late.  Most students depart out of Chicago or Indy.  Via brightspace, you can also go through the course syllabus and catch up on course announcements.  Students may still drop the study abroad before the $500 deposit is due at no penalty (a "W" won't show up on your transcript or anything).   

In December 2025, the faculty host (Jim) developed and published several articles on websites on topics related to the trip that you can check out.  The first is entitled Driving Regional Economic Prosperity: Modern-Day Automobile Clusters and Their OEM Supply Chains and the second is entitled The Essential Model of Collaborations in the Post-Pandemic Automobile Supply Chain to Avoid Bottlenecks.

All students are encouraged to register for the The Global Leaps Scholarship

The Commerce of Cars in Central Europe: From Creation to Cargo

- 3 credits/IET 490

- Enjoy Bavarian and Dutch cuisine and culture at its most authentic

- Gain experiences, insight, and knowledge related to the post-pandemic, AI-driven global supply chain

 *Erasmus University students joining on several tours tbd

This 3-credit study abroad will explore Stuttgart, Germany; Munich, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands

Go to jimmtanoos.com for full trip reports from past study abroads, and you can also go here for daily student reflections over the years of study abroads in these German and Dutch cities since 2017.  You will get a good feel for the vibe of the trip based on these student posts.  You can also check out last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip) here.  Enrollment will close when the maximum threshold of students is reached.

Trip Synopsis:

This two-week, 3-credit Maymester study abroad follows the multinational automobile supply chain from the assembly of components (Stuttgart and Munich, Germany) to the final export and shipping process (Rotterdam, Netherlands).  Applied learning topics associated with Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing of multinational automobiles will be experienced, including a collaborative session with undergraduate peers at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus University, and three of the three of the four multinational automobile factory tours (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, and Audi) to study production techniques and how Industry 4.0 is impacting the manufacture of these vehicles.  Students will also take a bicyle tour of the largest port in Europe to see firsthand how the vehicles are shipped across the globe.  Cultural activities are an essential part of the curriculum, and students will learn how to utilize and get around via various modes of public transportation.

Rotterdam, Netherlands and Munich, Germany have rich histories of industrial competitiveness in the international marketplace, and their economies are thriving in large part due to the impact of their international automobile supply chains.  The program costs includes all activities from when the trip starts in the lobby of our Stuttgart hotel to our private coach to the Schipol airport. 

-

Feel free to go to last year's trip (which is the same as this year's trip here)

Contact Dr. James Tanoos (jtanoos@purdue.edu, or 317-989-7726) for more information.  I have a powerpoint that shares more.

This is a Maymester class and will hit your bursar's account at the time of your other classes before the start of the summer semester in early May.  If you register for aditional summer course, the 6 credits will allow you to be eligible for full-time student status over the summer session.  Whatever payment method is in place for your classes will be the same method that this trip is paid.  It will just hit your bursar's account like an expensive class.

The program fee will be approximately $3,500, which includes trains, hotels, tours/excursions, city public transportation passes, and any other transportation, plus the typical $350 study abroad fee.  Basically, this covers everything on the trip except for lunches and most dinners.  The trip starts at the hotel lobby in Stuttgart (you can arrive early if you want) and ends at the Amsterdam airport (or you can stay late if you want), and the trip will cover all costs in-between.  Flights are paid separately by the student with the itinerary determined by the student, but the costs of the flight are added to student loans, etc.  Please check with the Division of Financial Aid to determine how financial aid can apply to your program expenses.  This is a military-friendly trip so inquire about how the GI bill applies to this trip.

Upon enrollment, students will immediately be added to brightspace where they can connect with other students about flight options.  It is becoming more and more common that students arrive on the continent a few days early and/or stay a few days late.  Most students depart out of Chicago or Indy.  Via brightspace, you can also go through the course syllabus and catch up on course announcements.  Students may still drop the study abroad before the $500 deposit is due at no penalty (a "W" won't show up on your transcript or anything).   

In December 2025, the faculty host (Jim) developed and published several articles on websites on topics related to the trip that you can check out.  The first is entitled Driving Regional Economic Prosperity: Modern-Day Automobile Clusters and Their OEM Supply Chains and the second is entitled The Essential Model of Collaborations in the Post-Pandemic Automobile Supply Chain to Avoid Bottlenecks.

All students are encouraged to register for the The Global Leaps Scholarship