MP for Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans, welcomed Trudy Harrison, the Minister for Transport, to Horiba MIRA, to highlight the cutting-edge work on autonomous vehicles being developed locally. The Minister joined the Bosworth MP for the visit on 25 November, demonstrating the site’s importance locally, nationally and internationally, as the UK’s own automotive “silicon valley”.
Dr Evans and the Minister, along with a whole host of industry figures, began the visit at the Horiba MIRA Technology with a discussion on how the technology developed right here in Bosworth is world leading its research and front and centre of the UK’s green and self-driving transport goals. The institute is a bespoke global centre for skills, developing specialist skills in key areas of emerging automotive technology, and offers educational courses on a range of levels. Mark Cracknell, Head of CAM, gave an overview of the challenges facing the industry for adopting future technologies, the likes of which are developed on-site at MIRA.
There was also the opportunity to visit the ASSURED CAV (Connected & Autonomous Vehicles) facilities on site, including city zones and the parking structure, to see how autonomous vehicles are developed and tested for future use on our roads. The facility is a high-quality testing environment, used by some of the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturers. In June, the Conservative Party Chair also visited MIRA with Dr Luke as part of the Levelling Up Tour, which visited key sites across the UK.
Earlier this year, MIRA signed a new multi-million deal with Evans Randall Investors, to expand the site beyond its current size of 850 acres. REE Automotive have also announced a new multi-million investment in previous months, to develop a new production facility in the area.
Dr Luke said: ‘MIRA is absolutely at the cutting edge of the future of the automotive industry, and I’m so proud that this work is taking place right on our doorsteps. Employing more than 1000 skilled engineers, the site is particularly important locally as a centre of investment, but also nationally and internationally in addition.”
“It was fantastic to see the Minister there, proving once again that our area is firmly at the top of the agenda! A huge thanks to the Minister for coming down, and to everyone at MIRA and Transport for West Midlands for organising the visit.’
