REE opens new EV centre in Warwickshire
REE Automotive has announced the establishment a new engineering centre at the MIRA technology park in Warwickshire.
The move will see the firm develop its strategic plans to meet global demand for its EV platform technology. The centre will focus on the design, validation, verification and testing of its platform through the company’s access to the park’s testing facilities. It is hoped to create around 200 jobs in the area.
The firm intends to assemble components at its new integration centres, reducing expenditure, and establish a total network of 15 such centres overall with the first to open in the US in 2021. REE plans to manufacture via a secured and exclusive global network of partners in over 30 countries, with point-of-sale assembly.
REE’s technology integrates all critical vehicle components, such as steering, into the arch of the wheel. This concept allows a completely flat and modular electric chassis and provides customers with full design freedom. REE’s proprietary technology is agnostic to vehicle size and design, power-source and driving mode (human or autonomous), it said.
Daniel Barel, REE’s co-founder and CEO: “I am excited to announce another major milestone for REE towards bringing our technology and products to the market as we expand our global footprint.
“With the recent announcement that we plan to go public via a SPAC through our merger with 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. and funding from long-term strategic investors including Koch Strategic Platforms, Mahindra & Mahindra and Magna International, REE would have sufficient capital to accelerate mass production of REEcorner technology and modular EV platforms.
“The first REEcorners are expected to be delivered to customers in 2022, with mass production beginning in 2023. This new Engineering Center is a state-of-the-art facility allowing us to accelerate our validation, verification and testing as well as product homologation.”
Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, minister for investment at the Department for International Trade: “The Government’s multi-million ‘Driving the Electric Revolution’ program, which drives forward new solutions in automotive power electronics, motors and drives, has played a major role in bringing this exciting investment to the UK.”
Mike Charlton, REE’s COO, who is responsible for the launch stated, “A key driver in our decision to establish our presence in the UK is the UK government’s forward-thinking vision and zero-emissions policy that perfectly aligns with REE’s goal of heralding a more sustainable, greener future for our generation and those to come.”
- Image from MIRA press release