Plans to build a jaguar, Land Rover, £100million automotive research centre in Coventry have taken a major step forward.

The city’s University of Warwick, WMG and Jaguar Land Rover have signed the ‘heads of terms’ for the construction of the new National Automotive Innovation Campus.

The agreement means that plans to build the iconic facility at the University of Warwick can move forward - with building work set to begin in September next year.

This state-of-the-art campus will include engineering, labs and powertrain facilities as well as virtual reality areas, design studios, demonstrations and education facilities.

More than 900 staff from academic and industry teams from WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors European Technology Centre and other partners will work together on research projects to deliver world-class breakthrough products, processes and services.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “I am delighted that we have finalised the NAIC agreement and continuing our collaborative partnership with WMG and the University of Warwick.

“NAIC offers the opportunity for Jaguar Land Rover to develop its research and advanced engineering operations in one centre with academic and industry experts working together to develop and innovate, internationally competitive products of the future.”

The NAIC, which will be largest research facility of its kind outside of Germany, is expected to open in 2016. Lord Bhattacharyya, WMG chairman, said: “The automotive industry in the UK has seen a recent resurgence, but for the UK to remain internationally competitive we must create urgently a critical mass in research excellence.

“Our vision is to create the National Automotive Innovation Campus where we link people, research and world-leading infrastructure to create and develop novel technologies.

"NAIC will be an engine for economic growth, with wide economic benefit, and sustained growth from the creation of world-leading technologies.”

The University of Warwick’s vice-chancellor and president, Prof Nigel Thrift added: “This is a considerable investment that benefits not just our university, nor just our city and region, but as its name says will be of national importance in providing world leading facilities to mesh with engineering ingenuity of our researchers and manufacturers.”

REPORT HERE