County Down manufacturer CCP Gransden is to take part in Project Tucana — a £35 million research project to create a specialist electric vehicle (announced by Prime Minister Theresa May at the recent Zero Emission Vehicles Summit).

The Ballygowan-based advanced composites firm, which specialises in the aerospace, automotive and defence industries, was brought into the project by Jaguar Land Rover.

Jim Erskine, CCP Gransden’s managing director (www.ccp-gransden.com), said: “We have developed a manufacturing cell that is highly automated and enables us to manufacture composite parts at a high rate and to a high quality.

“We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover has given us the opportunity to work on this project, and we are proud to be at the forefront of continuing to develop the manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland.”

With electrified vehicles needing stiffer and lighter structures, Project Tucana aims to develop cost-effective and scalable carbon-fibre composite solutions.