- One of Europe’s largest automotive research and development centres is tackling society’s greatest mobility challenges to shape the future of the automotive industry from the heart of the UK
- £150m national centre dedicated to advanced automotive research, design and development
- Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors and WMG, University of Warwick showcased sustainable future mobility projects, including their latest electrified and autonomous vehicles.
- Jaguar Land Rover demonstrated its latest advanced autonomous research concept vehicle as the next stage of its Destination Zero mission: an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner.
Coventry, UK – 18 February 2020: HRH The Prince of Wales today officially opened one of Europe’s largest automotive research and development facilities, the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), at the University of Warwick, in Coventry. Advanced researchers, engineers and designers based at the Centre are tackling society’s largest mobility challenges and collectively shaping the future of the global automotive industry from the heart of the United Kingdom.
Bringing together the brightest minds from industry and academia, the NAIC is a beacon for future mobility and sustainability research and development. It will create future vehicles and personal mobility solutions as well as deliver the skills required to keep the UK globally competitive. The NAIC is at the centre of the Midlands ecosystem, which is a magnet for economic growth and delivering a Destination Zero future.
During today’s visit, Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors and WMG showcased sustainable future mobility projects, including their most recent electrified and autonomous vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover demonstrated its latest advanced autonomous research concept vehicle as the next stage of its Destination Zero mission: an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner. Delivered through relentless innovation, the company’s focus is on achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion – across its facilities, and through its products and services.
Here academics, manufacturers and suppliers will develop a smart, safe transport infrastructure that integrates autonomous vehicles and public transport; design zero emissions vehicles powered by smart‑chargers and renewable energy and discover material and digital manufacturing innovations that will eliminate waste.
We are honoured that HRH The Prince of Wales has joined us today to open the National Automotive Innovation Centre.
Prof Sir Ralf Speth
CEO Jaguar Land Rover
A collaborative hub
The 33,000m² centre is designed as an innovative, collaborative workspace for hundreds of academics, designers, researchers and engineers. It includes cutting‑edge workshops, laboratories, virtual engineering suites and advanced powertrain facilities. The concept for the NAIC was brought to life by the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder of WMG, and the building it is located in is named in his honour.
The partners working together in NAIC are engineering the future and helping supply the next generation of engineers, designers and researchers. At NAIC, students and apprentices work alongside experts and leaders in their fields. Through a range of education programmes, apprenticeships and lifelong learning, all three partners are developing curricula which support the emerging technologies and mobility solutions.
We have benefited from the dedication of many individuals and organisations from across industry and academia, as well as local and national government, have come together to help bring the vision of the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya to fruition to create a centre dedicated to the development and research of the future of mobility.
Professor Stuart Croft
The University of Warwick’s Vice‑Chancellor
We are committed to delivering the skills required to keep the UK globally competitive and are developing curriculums, such as our digital degree apprentice programme, which enables emerging technology and mobility solutions.
Professor David Mullins
Interim Head of WMG
Sustainable future mobility
Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors and WMG are developing next generation future electrified and autonomous vehicles at the NAIC. Today, they exhibited some of their latest projects including: Warwick’s Formula Student entry and the Warwick Moto concept which is led by WMG; Tata Motor’s latest affordable Nexon EV and autonomous Tata Hexa alongside Jaguar Land Rover’s latest prototype self‑driving Jaguar I‑PACE and ADAS Land Rover Discovery.
The National Automotive Innovation Centre brings together UK‑based engineering and design experts to one setting, providing greater synergy on ground‑breaking design and technologies with a focus in Connected, Electric, Shared and Safe, that will help shape future mobility solutions in India.
The Centre has been carefully designed to support the future of automotive advancements. Its virtual engineering suite, powertrain facilities, laboratories and cutting‑edge design workshop provide an inspiring, productive and collaborative environment for the future.
The opening of the National Automotive Innovation Centre, at the start of our 75th year, confirms Tata Motors' commitment to developing responsible and sustainable solutions to address the global challenges of the coming decades. The team is excited by HRH The Prince of Wales’ presence at the event and his great interest and understanding of the opportunities and challenges of our industry.
Guenter Butschek
CEO and MD of Tata Motors Ltd
Sustainable wellbeing
The building and all its facilities were designed from first principles to embrace sustainability and wellbeing.
NAIC’s construction has been recognised with the highest BREEAM Excellent rating and the building includes a rooftop photovoltaic array and regenerative electrical heating. Underneath one of the world’s largest glulam timber roofs, offices are flooded with natural light, and are arranged around a daylight filled atrium. The £150m Centre is a partnership project by Jaguar Land Rover, WMG, Tata Motors and the University of Warwick with £15m funding from the UK Government’s Research Partnership Investment Fund, through Research England.
The National Automotive Innovation Centre will create breakthrough technologies with a whole system approach that crosses multiple disciplines. This model of interdisciplinary working exemplifies how our innovative higher education sector works with industry to foster collaborative and highly effective relationships, in regional centres of research excellence such as the West Midlands.
Research England is delighted to have the opportunity to support the NAIC via the Research Partnership Investment Fund.
David Sweeney
Research England
Further information
About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all‑wheel‑drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.
At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class‑leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2019 Jaguar Land Rover sold 557,706 vehicles in 127 countries.
We support around 260,000 people through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and soon to be opened Battery Assembly Centre. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. We have seven technology hubs. In the UK these are based in Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London. Globally these are located in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.
We have a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug‑in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines. All new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicle models offer the option of electrification, giving our customers even more choice.
Notes to Editors
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