"What WMG taught me…was why and how the industry is doing this, the challenges and what’s needed to deliver the products.”

The tiniest tweak to a chassis or grille shutter can enhance an electric vehicle’s (EV) performance.

It takes a very specific skillset to achieve efficiencies in EV driving range and energy consumption. A professional with a comprehensive grasp of technologies such as thermodynamics combined with knowledge of the automotive business.

WMG graduate Luis Martinez Morales has these abilities and more. Which is why Jaguar Land Rover hired him straight after his MSc in Sustainable Automotive Electrification in 2021. His interview presentation on system product development was inspired by a WMG course module, and helped him win his job.

Now, the 27-year-old is involved in the development of EVs, from concept to completion. On a typical day, Luis talks to the efficiency team on issues such as how to get more miles or better performance from a component change. His role also involves analysing data to ensure products meet regulatory and certification procedures.

Luis says: “The goal isn’t just about giving consumers a good car but also delivering to the streets. What WMG taught me was why and how the industry is doing this, the challenges, and what’s needed to deliver the products.”

In terms of career advancement, his MSc gave him the best of both worlds – a perspective on the technical side of EV manufacture and on the management, research and strategy side. As such, Luis knows what to look for in technical data while also being tuned into the mindset of senior management.

“Our lectures were people from industry such as companies that make car power inverters. It showed me the realities of the market and that you have to convince the public that your cars are what they’re looking for.”

Helping build something new is ‘motivating’, says Luis. Cars have always been his passion – a Jaguar E type in ‘British Racing Green’ would be his ideal model and which is now available as an EV.

Just as the E type can be future-proofed so can the automotive industry. With talent like Luis’s.