International automotive company on hunt for Midlands site for European HQ
An international automotive company which specialises in e-call vehicle crash alert systems has confirmed it is looking at sites in Coventry and the wider Midlands to be home to its new European facility.
Australian-based IMR Technologies is behind the solution to the European Union’s ruling that all new car and light commercial vehicle models sold in the EU from 31 March 2018 be fitted with 112-based eCall (the pan-European cellular emergency system for motor vehicles) technology.
The driver or passengers of a vehicle fitted with the technology can activate a 112 eCall, or the device will automatically make the eCall when vehicle sensors register a collision, sharing the vehicle’s precise geo-location, its make and model details and its circumstances, for example if it is lying on its roof.
The EU legislation is based on the recognition that providing the emergency services with relevant information the instant that a collision occurs can slash the services’ response time.
Managing director Martyn Gilbert has flown to the UK to join Steven Warner, commercial manager of the European operation, in the search for a facility which would offer offices, space for R&D and engineering.
“The Midlands and surrounding areas have long been home to automotive innovation,” said Warner.
“The region enjoys excellent access to the road and rail networks and airports, which are vital to underpinning communications for multinational businesses. Whichever site is specified would become home to a number of automotive engineers and marketers all working towards one goal – vehicle occupant safety and rescue.”
IMR Technologies has invested years and millions of dollars in designing and engineering the IMR Sentinel In-Vehicle System.
Gilbert said: “Certification was awarded to the Sentinel for fitting to new car and light commercial vehicle models sold in the EU following a series of demanding tests last year.
“IMR Technologies continues to engage in more advanced development and strategic sales and marketing in Europe. We recognise the respect that Europe and the rest of the world have for British design capabilities and engineering innovation and so decided that the UK will be the centre for European sales, marketing and commercial development.
“We therefore launched IMR Technologies (UK) Ltd as the European entity and IMR Technologies (UK) is investigating appropriate sites in Coventry and the Midlands for its design engineering, sales and support activities.”
If the company picks a facility in the West Midlands, it would join the likes of car giants Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin.
Jaguar Land Rover has its HQ in Coventry, which is also home of the car maker’s powertrain engineering operation and Jaguar design department, while Aston Martin’s manufacturing base is at Gaydon.
Elsewhere, the National Automotive Innovation Centre opened at the University of Warwick towards the end of last year through a partnership between WMG, Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors’ European Technical Centre and the UK Government Higher Education Funding Council England.
