Award for Automotive Innovation 2013

2013 Award
Previous years
Judges
Sponsor

SMMT Award for Automotive Innovation: 2013 competition

The Award recognises innovations within UK automotive manufacturing, design and engineering, acknowledging ideas that have already benefitted, or have the potential to deliver excellence in the sector.

More information about the 2013 award will appear here in due course. To register for updates about the award, e-mail updateinnovationaward@smmt.co.uk.

Competition – previous years

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ Award for Automotive Innovation returned for its third consecutive year in 2012, sponsored by GKN Driveline and supported by The Times.

Beating off strong competition from across the car, component and intelligent mobility sectors, the Optare Versa EV scooped SMMT’s annual award, which highlights the importance of R&D and innovation in the industry.

Developed from the 27-seater Optare Solo EV that was launched in 2010, the Versa EV is the UK’s first fully operational, full-sized, battery-powered electric bus. Designed and engineered at Optare’s exclusive UK facility in North Yorkshire, the Versa EV boasts impressive environmental credentials with zero tailpipe emissions and reduced noise and is capable of carrying around 50 passengers.

Jaguar Land Rover won the 2011 Award for the Land Rover Range_e, an affordable plug-in hybrid 4×4 concept with respectable range. In 2010, it was Gordon Murray Design for the iStream manufacturing process.

How to enter

The Award is not yet open to entries for 2013.

Updates will be posted here to announce the launch of the 2013 Award later this year. To register for updates about the award, e-mail updateinnovationaward@smmt.co.uk.

The Award is open to SMMT members and non-members, engaged in any aspect of the automotive industry in the United Kingdom. Entry is free and open to anyone, be it an individual, team, department or a submission on behalf of an organisation, provided there is a link with the UK sector. Further criteria and information will be posted here in due course.

SMMT Award for Automotive Innovation: previous years

The 2012 winner

The 2011 winner

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) won SMMT’s 2011 Award for Automotive Innovation for its prototype Range_e – the world’s first luxury Plug-in Hybrid Electric 4×4 with integrated V6 diesel engine.

The award, sponsored by GKN Driveline, was presented to JLR’s Chief Engineer, Hybrids, Peter Richings at SMMT’s Annual Dinner by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker and Rob Rickell, Global Engineering Director, GKN.

The Range_e beat off stiff competition from companies across the car, commercial vehicle and supply chain sectors to win SMMT’s second annual award designed to showcase the importance of R&D and the role the UK plays in developing global automotive products.

The 2010 winner

Gordon Murray Design’s revolutionary iStream manufacturing process was the winner of SMMT’s Award for Automotive Innovation in 2010.

Click on the play button to watch Gordon Murray, CEO and Technical Director, talk about the company’s entry to the 2010 Award.

Gordon Murray said:

“Awards like the Award for Automotive Innovation are really important for small start-up companies like ours. There are established innovators in the UK that get a lot of press coverage, but it’s always helpful to get recognition, especially when you are trying to do something which is not conventional, in order to gain people’s attention.”

Judged by a panel of industry experts, including Dr George Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, MIRA, and Joe Greenwell, Chairman, Ford of Britain, Gordon Murray Design was announced as the winner of the 2010 Award at SMMT’s 94th Annual Dinner.

To register for updates about the 2013 Award, e-mail updateinnovationaward@smmt.co.uk.

SMMT Award for Automotive Innovation: the judges

Paul Everitt, Chief Executive, SMMT

Paul Everitt joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in January 2008 as Chief Executive. He has over 17 years experience in public policy and media campaigning within the transport sector and was previously Director of Civil Air Transport and Communications at the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), where he oversaw the launch of the world’s first sustainable aviation strategy. Before joining SBAC, Paul was Head of Communications, Economics and Policy at SMMT.

Paul says, “This Award recognises the exceptional strength of UK automotive innovation, design and engineering. We hope that by celebrating success and showcasing talent we can help fast track new ideas and business opportunities. There is no doubting the high calibre of automotive talent out there; the Award for Automotive Innovation 2012 calls for cutting-edge entries which demonstrate technical strength and ingenuity from across the UK sector”.

Dave Salt, Chief Engineer, GKN Driveline

Dave Salt has more than 40 years of experience within automotive engineering and specialises in vehicle design, development and application. He is Chief Engineer and Engineering Site Manager at GKN Driveline, a UK-based global engineering company. The business employs 18,000 people in more than 40 facilities in over 20 countries, working in partnership with vehicle manufacturers. This is the second year that Dave has participated in the judging of the Award.

Dave says, “The UK automotive industry is one of the most diverse and dynamic in the world, but its capabilities in the fields of engineering, design and innovation are not always fully recognised to the extent they should be. SMMT’s Award is a great way to highlight these strengths across industry and, as a leading automotive manufacturing supplier, GKN Driveline is proud to be a part of the judging panel”.

Ian Downing, Investment Director, Business Growth Fund

Ian started his career with Jaguar Cars where he led various projects in the Advanced Engineering Group, before switching to the world of finance. Having previously worked in private equity with 3i Group plc, Ian joined BGF in 2011. He is responsible for finding and completing new investments, working closely with management teams to support their growth plans.

Ian says, “As a young engineer, I found the automotive industry to be a unique and stimulating environment for encouraging innovation. It is a globally competitive industry where there is a relentless drive to develop safer and more efficient vehicles with exciting features for drivers and passengers. BGF is keen to support the most creative companies in the sector and SMMT’s Award clearly demonstrates why the UK is recognised worldwide for its innovation”.

Robert Lea, Industrial Editor, The Times

Robert has been a business journalist for more than 20 years and at The Times covers the automotive, transportation, engineering and manufacturing industries as well as industrial relations and business policy.

He previously worked for the London Evening Standard.

More information about the 2013 award will appear here in due course. To register for updates about the award, e-mail updateinnovationaward@smmt.co.uk.

SMMT Award for Automotive Innovation: our 2012 sponsor

The sponsor of the Award for Automotive Innovation 2012 was GKN Driveline.

Founded at the dawn of the industrial revolution in 1759, GKN has over two and a half centuries proved a master of industrial evolution. Today, GKN is a UK-based global engineering company focused on automotive and aerospace.

GKN’s main automotive business, GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline systems and solutions. As a global business serving the leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline systems – for use in the smallest ultra-low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle, demanding the most complex driving dynamics.

GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ systems, AWD systems, Trans Axle solutions and eDrive systems.

From a state-of-the-art manufacturing base in Birmingham, GKN Driveline is a leading supplier to all the UK’s car manufacturers.