Connected and immersive technologies for future mobility in Coventry and Warwickshire

Vehicles are becoming increasingly driven by software, creating fresh demand for businesses with capability in cyber security, data and AI, immersive and AR/ VR tech, and gamification. These enabling technologies are essential in the development of new vehicles and across onboard user experience, security, connectivity and shared services.

Sector and market opportunity

Coventry and Warwickshire’s unique automotive supply chain includes design, prototyping, test, development, and manufacturing capability, and is home to over 40 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle brands.

The region provides a ready market for companies providing infotainment, software, AR/VR and immersive tech and cyber solutions for onboard vehicles. It also serves those seeking to sell technologies to speed the development process of new vehicles with the aid of new applications of digital technologies like AI.

Growth prospects

Local OEMs like Aston Martin, JLR and MINI are developing new EV products, and OEMs are increasingly setting up here to access talent and the automotive R&D eco-system. Recent entrants include GM, Ola Electric, Polestar, Tevva and TVS.

Coventry and Warwickshire has been selected to receive up to £7.5 million under the Immersive and Creative Technologies Launchpad programme. The programme is focused on the development and adaptation of new technologies across various industries, including future mobility and manufacturing.

Location

Alongside its automotive cluster, Coventry and Warwickshire is a leading centre for software and cyber technology. It’s also a centre of excellence in vehicle autonomy, with 3 of the 6 Testbed UK vehicle autonomy facilities.

Locally, Leamington ‘Silicon Spa’ is the largest video games development cluster outside of London. Moreover, the University of Warwick’s WMG Cyber Security Centre is GCHQ certified.

FDI investors include ARM, Bosch, Eatron, Lanner Group, TATA TCS and Elxsi, Ubisoft and Visteon.

Connectivity

Coventry and Warwickshire is well connected to the UK motorway network and Birmingham International and East Midlands Airports, and London Heathrow is just 90 minutes away.

There are 4 rail-freight hubs in the area and Coventry is a short distance from the first stop on the new HS2 route, and a new Very Light Rail (VLR) system is in development.

Local talent and skills

The local area benefits from:

• 50,000+ employed in transport technology and 76,000 locally in tech roles
• 25,000 employed nearby in Motorsport Valley, home of F1
• 27,545 university students studying engineering and 13,765 studying computer science
• Warwick Innovation District, supporting digital creative industries

Vocational skills support includes:

• the MIRA Technology Institute
• AME (with Coventry University and Unipart)
• Lloyds Bank AMTC at MTC
• the SAE Institute new campus with 2-year degrees in Audio Production, Content Creation and Online Marketing, Game Art Animation, and Games Programming

The 5G West Midlands (WM5G) mobile technology will accelerate the benefits of 5G in the area.

Research and expertise

Future mobility enabling facilities include:

• Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) - cyber and autonomy
• HORIBA MIRA, cyber and autonomy in automotive and defence
• the Centre for Future Transport and Cities at Coventry University
• 3/6 Zenzic Testbed UK facilities: CONVEX, Assured CAV and Midlands Future Mobility
• Warwick Innovation District - an initiative by UK top-15 University of Warwick to grow the digital creative cluster
• Flexible innovation space like UWSP with wrap-around support for tech companies – a popular starting place for FDI companies

Enabling clean growth

Green transport and the UK’s net zero ambitions; inward investment focused on growth areas:

• vehicle software and autonomy
• battery development, manufacturing and power electronics
• EV design, test and development
• developing the UK tech supply chain to decarbonise design and development processes

The UK Government aims to:

• end the sale of new, polluting road vehicles by 2040
• achieve net zero rail network by 2040
• achieve net zero aviation emissions by 2050
• accelerate off-highway and maritime decarbonisation

Local and national government support

The APC’s collaborative research and development competitions aim to speed the development of low-carbon technology to commercialisation.

The Automotive Transformation Fund is creating a sustainable and competitive UK supply chain for zero-emission vehicles.

Coventry and Warwickshire offers support with skills, recruitment and investment in capital expenditure and green technologies. It has been selected to receive up to £7.5 million under the Immersive and Creative Technologies Launchpad program, focused on the development and adaptation of new technologies.