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Climate Change and Industry Minister
has today announced the
launch of MERIDIAN – a new co-ordination hub for Connected
Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies
testing.
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Government investment, matched by
industry, will create the world’s most effective CAV testing
cluster in the UK’s automotive and technology heartlands
between Coventry and London.
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MERIDIAN will cement the UK’s status as
the go-to destination for development of CAV and new vehicle
technologies.
Climate Change and Industry Minister has today (Thursday 7
September) launched MERIDIAN, a new Government-backed and
industry-led brand for the development of Connected and
Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology in the
UK.
MERIDIAN, funded jointly by the Government’s flagship
£100m CAV investment programme and by industry, will create a
cluster of excellence in driverless car testing, along the M40
corridor between Coventry and London, to accelerate the
development of this technology, grow intellectual capital and
attract overseas investment in the UK.
A key part of the Industrial Strategy commitment to
develop world-class CAV testing facilities and infrastructure,
the launch of the MERIDIAN brand follows a call for evidence by
the Centre of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in May 2016 into
how the UK can integrate and strengthen its CAV testing
facilities and to consider the case for a test bed to provide a
focus for the industry.
Responses to the consultation were published in
March, reflected broad industry support from the Automotive
Council, among other sectors and companies, for coordinating the
UK’s existing testing facilities and for Government funding to
support this work.
Climate Change and Industry Minister
said:
“At the heart of our Industrial Strategy is a
commitment to delivering world class science, research and
innovation. The MERIDIAN co-ordination hub embodies this
ambition, creating a globally recognisable brand that will bring
the automotive sector, academia and Government together behind a
common set of strategic goals.
“A report we are publishing today predicts that by
2035 the global market for CAV technologies will be worth £907
billion, and through Government investment and collaboration with
industry in this area we will ensure that the UK becomes one of
the global ‘go to’ destinations for the development of this
technology.”
With bases at the Coventry and Stratford branches of
the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), MERIDIAN will bring
together the UK’s existing CAV testing centres to create a
concentrated cluster of testing facilities that covers all
testing requirements for CAV technology. Analysis has identified
that through the hub, the UK has a unique opportunity to focus on
four strategically important areas:
Ford Director of Global Vehicle
Evaluation and Verification and Chair of the Auto Council
Technology Group, Graham Hoare
said:
“These technologies are coming and will
profoundly change our understanding of mobility. The UK has
long-standing capabilities across many of the sectors supporting
new vehicle technologies and an approach that is more open and
collaborative than other markets.
“We recognise that these exciting new
technologies are broader than the automotive sector and we
welcome the different ideas and perspectives that this brings. We
look forward to working with MERIDIAN to develop, articulate, and
amplify our national offer.”
The Government has also today published its Centre
for Connected Autonomous Vehicles
(CCAV) Global Market Value
reportwhich predicts the global market for
CAV technology could be worth £907bn in 2035. The report sets out
a number of interesting findings and future predictions for the
industry:
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By establishing a leadership position for the UK
in CAV technologies could see the UK market reach £52bn by
2035
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By 2035 the UK will have over 27,000 jobs involved in
the production of CAV technology, including thousands of new
highly skilled jobs in the auto sector
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70% of the jobs related to CAV technology production
are estimated to be highly-skilled professional and technical
roles in software-related industries
