REE Automotive Opens New Engineering Centre of Excellence in the UK
“We are incredibly pleased to be welcoming REE to MIRA Technology Park, where they join a cluster of companies dedicated to delivering innovative automotive products for global markets. Located in the heart of the UK and supported by HORIBA MIRA’s world-class attribute, vehicle engineering and testing services, REE are well-positioned to achieve their ambitious goals.”
Tim Nathan, Managing Director, MIRA Technology Park
Read REE’s press announcement below:
Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Europe’s leading automotive engineering services company, HORIBA MIRA, today confirmed that its Vehicle Attribute Development Team will further enhance its proprietary approach to driver-centric and qualitative vehicle attribute engineering with the addition of a VI-grade DiM250 simulator to the company’s existing capabilities.
The investment is not just the first of its kind in the UK, but the driver-in-the-loop simulator with a full-motion platform enhances HORIBA MIRA’s long-established capability to develop brand-specific chassis, brake and steer performance that favourably drives customer choice.
Vehicle manufacturers are actively pursuing reduced vehicle development lead times. This VI-grade simulator investment made by HORIBA MIRA – the second in the past 12 months – coupled with deep engineering expertise, enables the leading automotive engineering services provider to reduce the time needed to develop vehicles by moving engineering decisions upstream through building greater confidence in the virtual design process. As well as increasing the speed of vehicle development, this approach also reduces the design phase cost and OEM carbon footprint by minimising reliance on prototype fleets, which potentially costs OEMs millions per vehicle programme.
In addition, the rapid changes to new propulsion technologies and flexible vehicle architectures are demanding extensive attribute engineering support, founded on these new dynamic considerations.
For new disruptors entering the market, the opportunity to benefit from deep attribute engineering expertise from HORIBA MIRA to accelerate their development cycle without the need for extensive investment, is critical for speed to market and commercial viability. HORIBA MIRA’s expert engineering services, combined with key infrastructure such as the new DiM simulator and subjective-led vehicle attribute development, has resulted in many new market entrants taking up residence at MIRA Technology Park to benefit from this complete service offering.
Daniel Barel, REE’s Co-Founder and CEO:
“I am excited to announce another major milestone for REE towards bringing our technology and products to the market as we expand our global footprint. With the recent announcement that we plan to go public via a SPAC through our merger with 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. and funding from long-term strategic investors including Koch Strategic Platforms, Mahindra & Mahindra and Magna International, REE would have sufficient capital to accelerate mass production of REEcorner technology and modular EV platforms. The first REEcorners are expected to be delivered to customers in 2022, with mass production beginning in 2023. This new Engineering centre is a state-of-the-art facility allowing us to accelerate our validation, verification and testing as well as product homologation.”
REE’s technology empowers global mobility companies with the flexibility to build electric and autonomous cars, vans and trucks of any size or shape, for any application, and any target market. REE’s proprietary REEcorner X-by-wire technology integrates all critical vehicle components (steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control) into the arch of the wheel. This groundbreaking concept, unique to REE, allows a completely flat and modular electric chassis and provides customers with full design freedom to create the broadest range of electric and autonomous vehicles. EVs and AVs built on REEcorner and EV platform technology will offer more room for passengers, cargo, and batteries in a manner unprecedented in the industry. REE’s proprietary technology is agnostic to vehicle size and design, power-source and driving mode (human or autonomous).
Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade:
“The UK is the most welcoming location for a pioneering automotive company like REE thanks to our leading position in both CAM and vehicle electrification. The Government’s multi-million ‘Driving the Electric Revolution’ program, which drives forward new solutions in automotive power electronics, motors and drives, has played a major role in bringing this exciting investment to the UK. I wish the company every success in its new home.”
Mike Charlton, REE’s COO, who is responsible for the launch stated,
“A key driver in our decision to establish our presence in the UK is the UK government’s forward-thinking vision and zero-emissions policy that perfectly aligns with REE’s goal of heralding a more sustainable, greener future for our generation and those to come.”
The opening of REE’s new Engineering Centre at MIRA Technology Park in the UK – Europe’s leading mobility R&D location for developing the latest automotive technology – is anticipated to create approximately 200 highly skilled jobs in the next few years.
