National Automotive Innovation Centre
The Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building houses the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC). The NAIC creates and develops novel technologies to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to reduce CO2 emissions. As well as housing work on the latest advances in automotive technology, the NAIC helps to develop a stronger supplier base in the UK.
£150 million was invested in the NAIC and its research activities through a long-term commitment between Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, WMG and the University, along with an expanding network of supplier companies. The government (Higher Education Funding Council England) also provided £15 million of funding to support the capital project.
Features
33,000m2 of space for engineers, designers and academics to work together in
Developed in partnership by the University, WMG, Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC)
Awards
RIBA Client of the Year 2021 (shortlisted)
RIBA National Award for Architecture 2021 (winner)
AJ Architecture Award - Workplace category (shortlisted) 2021
RIBA Building of the Year (Regional winner) 2021
RIBA Client of the Year (Regional winner) 2021
RIBA Regional Award 2021 (winner)
BCO Best Workplace (winner) 2021
Wood Award 2021 (winner)
Civic Trust Award Regional (winner) 2021
Building Magazine Project of the Year Building Award (winner) 2020
AIA Excellence in design Awards Sustainability (winner) 2020
FX International Interior Design Award (shortlisted) 2020
BCO Best Work Place in the Midlands and Central England (winner) 2020
In their words...
The National Automotive Innovation Centre will provide a critical mass of research and development capability combining automotive expertise nationally and internationally in ways that will turn Coventry into the UK’s first Smart Motor City and will also significantly contribute to the delivery of the UK’s national industrial strategy.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman, WMG
NAIC will play an important role in shaping future mobility.
The finest minds of academia, suppliers and OEMs will work together to define our vision of "destination zero" - zero emissions, accidents and congestions, creating new opportunities out of the forthcoming technology change from ICE to ACE - from the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to smart mobility with Autonomous, Connected and Electrified (ACE) vehicles.
NAIC will provide the inspiring environment. NAIC will be the beacon of smart mobility in the United Kingdom.
Professor Dr Ralf Speth, CEO, JLR
Situated in the heart of the UK automotive industry, the National Automotive Innovation Centre will consolidate all TMETC’s business in one location, co-locating our Design and Engineering teams that lead the early development of new vehicle programs.
The collaborative environment of the Centre, and the new technical capability that it brings, will enable TMETC to play a greater role in the success of Tata Motors. In addition to acting as a catalyst for innovation and developing future vehicle technologies to meet rapidly changing global requirements.
John O’Connor, TMETC
Photograph by Nick Dimbleby