June 20, 2013 News The search for the UK’s next big automotive innovation starts today, as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders launches its 2013 Award for Automotive Innovation, sponsored by GKN Driveline and supported by The Times. The Award seeks out fresh ideas, inventive concepts and pioneering products that have the potential to leave a lasting impact on the automotive industry and provide tangible benefits to motorists. Recognising innovations from a wide variety of disciplines across the automotive sector, it acknowledges the time, effort and investment that the businesses in the UK motor industry dedicate to R&D and innovation. From the invention of the world’s first steel brake discs to the development of reflective road lighting, UK engineering has, without a doubt, played a major role in shaping the global automotive industry. Today, automotive is the UK’s third largest sector for R&D investment, with domestic companies spending more than £1.5bn a year on R&D projects that push the boundaries of automotive technology and innovation. UK automotive companies and individuals are invited to enter the Award, which will be judged by SMMT and a panel of senior industry experts including: Dave Salt, Chief Engineer, GKN Driveline Jim Higginbotham, Managing Director – Large Corporate and Specialist Asset Finance, Lombard John Laughlin, Programme Manager – Low Carbon Vehicles, Technology Strategy Board Robert Lea, Industrial Editor, The Times “The UK is home to some of history’s most renowned automotive innovators, but today we are calling for designers and engineers that are working on the technology of tomorrow,” said Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim Chief Executive. “UK automotive is working hard to stay at the forefront of our global industry and SMMT’s Award for Automotive Innovation will draw attention to some of the best ideas that could benefit the sector for years to come.” Last year’s Award was won by Optare plc for its Optare Versa EV – the UK’s first fully operational, full-sized, battery-powered electric bus. Glenn Saint, Deputy CEO of Optare said, “Winning the SMMT Innovation Award was a major boost to our efforts to make electric buses an integral part of the UK transport infrastructure. It significantly raised awareness among key audiences leading to an increase in enquiries, from both domestic and international markets, and has confirmed our status as the UK’s leader in the field of low carbon buses.” The Award for Automotive Innovation 2013 is free to enter and the winner will be announced at SMMT’s 97th Annual Dinner on 26 November 2013 at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, in front of more than 1,000 senior industry delegates. To find out more about the Award, visit www.smmt.co.uk/aai. For more information about this year’s Annual Dinner and for tickets, click here. While SMMT scours the nation for the UK’s best automotive innovation, you can tweet @SMMT and share your top automotive innovation or technology using the hashtag #UKAutoInnovation.
