As the world’s automotive industry strives to accelerate the development of new products based upon hybrid and electrified propulsion systems, Ricardo is creating a new global focus for its automotive business, helping customers to pull forward the latest clean technologies using world-class engineering and development skills
The automotive industry is arguably facing a situation of more profound technological change than at almost any point in its history. The regulatory imperatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, increase fuel economy, reduce noxious exhaust emissions and improve air quality – especially in the world’s urban centres – are providing a significant impetus for product innovation. In parallel with this, the rapid emergence of autonomous vehicle technology and of new models of shared transportation are spurring completely new entrants to the market.
In this situation of rapid and profound change for the global automotive ecosystem, Ricardo is ideally placed to assist the existing automotive manufacturers and their supply chains, and equally well positioned to work with new electrified vehicle producers and technology companies attempting to gain traction within the automotive sector. In addition to its leadership in powertrain and vehicle engineering, Ricardo is through its growing IP and project portfolio, increasingly seen as the world’s partner of choice in areas such as the development of electric vehicle battery systems and autonomous technologies such as heavy-duty truck platooning.
The new Ricardo Global Automotive Group will provide a highly customer focused global structure that will enable it to optimally serve the demands of customers for clean powertrain technologies and all aspects of vehicle engineering, including autonomous driving applications. The organization draws together the operations of the company’s automotive teams based at its technical centres across Europe, China and North America, which now includes a rapidly growing presence in California. This global integration and coordination of capability is indicative of the company’s highly responsive attitude to meeting the needs of its many customers, and will enable Ricardo to seamlessly deliver some of the largest and most technically challenging programmes using the significant resources of this international team.
The Ricardo Global Automotive Group will serve customers in four key market sectors: passenger cars and high-performance vehicles; commercial and off-highway vehicles; motorcycles, and; industrial and defence vehicles.
“The formation of the Global Automotive Group is an important milestone for Ricardo and its automotive customers,” commented Mark Garrett, Ricardo chief operating officer and head of the new division. “In configuring this new automotive-focused organization, we are able to align our technologies, development resources and team in a manner that is best suited to the needs of our customers – from the established players to new market entrants. By this means, we are ready both to help our customers with the most exacting challenges they face today, as well as helping them prepare for the cleaner, more electrified, technology-rich future of transportation.”
“Ricardo has grown significantly over recent years,” added Ricardo CEO Dave Shemmans, “and is now a major technology provider and consultant to the automotive, rail, environmental, water, and power industries. The formation of the new Ricardo Global Automotive Group will combine a laser-like focus on the specific existing and emerging needs of the automotive industry with the promotion of highly beneficial company-wide synergies in areas such as energy, air quality and sustainable transport. With the rapid increase in electrified powertrains and autonomous vehicle operation, these strong synergies are a particular and unique strength for Ricardo – and one that will enable us to provide a competitive edge to our automotive clients in an increasingly technology-driven market.”
