Billion Pound Advanced Propulsion Centre Hub location at Warwick

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has selected the University of Warwick as the site for its Hub location, supporting the ten year, £1 billion industry and government commitment to the development of low carbon propulsion systems. The central Hub together with a national Spoke structure will provide the UK automotive industry with resources and facilities to develop advanced propulsion systems and supply chains. In doing so the aim of the APC, in partnership with industry, is to secure and grow over 30,000 UK jobs currently engaged in the research, development and production of vehicle powertrains as the industry transitions to a low carbon future for all modes of transportation.

The APC helps forge partnerships between those who have good ideas and those who can bring them to market. The services provided by the APC will enable projects which provide profitable growth and sustainable opportunities for the partners involved and contribute to the UK’s economic prosperity.

APC Chief Executive Tony Pixton said: "The Advanced Propulsion Centre will support the UK automotive industry to become a global leader in the research, development and production of advanced propulsion systems. Through our Hub and Spoke network we will enable collaboration between SMEs, suppliers and vehicle manufacturers to create new powertrain solutions that build UK capability.

“The competition to identify the location for the APC Hub has re-enforced the fact that the UK is strategically placed to be a worldwide center for low carbon propulsion systems, R&D and production. The University of Warwick will become the location of the Hub for the APC, at the center of a Propulsion Nation, offering world class facilities and expertise as part of the ten year program of activity,” continued Pixton.

“The APC has already committed more than £130 million of new investment into the UK economy since it opened for business earlier this year. By the end of the year an additional round of project funding will allocate up to a further £75 million as part of the rapid action being undertaken by the APC team. The Hub facility is due to open in the Autumn and we will make further announcements about Spoke locations later this year," Pixton concluded.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre was created from the collaboration between industry and government through the Automotive Council. The APC is a central pillar of the Industrial Strategy published by the Council in 2013. The Automotive Council is co-chaired by the motor industry and government.

Professor Richard Parry-Jones, CBE, Co-Chair of the Automotive Council said: "I am pleased to note that the Advanced Propulsion System has selected its Hub location, which along with the regional Spokes, will be the key enablers for the rapid development of vehicle propulsion technology in the UK. Today’s announcement represents another important step in the implementation of the Automotive Council’s industrial strategy to position Britain as an undisputed leader in developing lower carbon technologies for future vehicles."