The Warwick Manufacturing Group has been awarded £65 million to help it create an Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory (APRL) at the National Automotive Innovation Centre, of which Jaguar Land Rover is a partner.
The APRL will focus on internal combustion engines, hybrid and electric systems, lightweight vehicle technology and advanced automotive control systems.
Jonathan Browning, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is a coup for the WMG and
for Coventry and Warwickshire; it represents further evidence that we are a global centre of automotive research, design and manufacturing.
“This really is a cutting-edge area of R&D, and it is exactly the sort of development that we want to attract in our bid to drive forward the economy of Coventry and Warwickshire.
“The UK will be at the forefront of designing the next generation of vehicles powered by different technologies. The innovative work that will be carried out at the APRL on collaborative low-carbon-vehicle projects will benefit the entire supply chain.”
Professor Kuman Bhattacharyya, chairman of the WMG, said: “Industry faces unprecedented challenges as the world moves to a low-carbon technology model, reinforced by escalating energy costs and legislation imposing strict emissions limits.
“It is forecast that by 2040 almost none of Europe’s new cars will be powered solely by a traditional engine. The Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory will lead research to address these arising needs, transforming the research and innovation landscape and positioning the UK as a leading innovator in propulsion systems.”