New ‘roadmap’ sets out 20-years of technological change in the UK motor industry

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Institute of Digital Engineering has created a ‘roadmap’ to guide the UK automotive sector through the next 20-years of industry digitalisation.

The online interactive document sets out how digital technologies can support engineers and manufacturers in creating the next generation of products faster and more efficiently.

Drawing on more than 600 hours of interviews and workshops with experts from within the industry – as well as from academia and other sectors, such as aerospace, pharmaceutical and gaming – the comprehensive plan outlines the importance of tools and processes such as AI, digital twinning and cybersecurity.

The IDE’s Digitalisation Roadmap follows four main themes.

They are:

  • Digital Engineering Environment
  • Process and Assurance
  • Co-creative Ecosystem
  • People

Kenny Maddock, Digitalisation Roadmap Manager, said: “The Digitalisation Roadmap is the most detailed roadmap of its kind ever produced.

“It is intended to be the guiding light for the UK Automotive Sector and beyond to embrace, implement, and be pioneers in digitalisation over the next 20 years.

“Enriched with industry-led input and backed up by over 600 hours of engagement, it gives relevant and concise information to support companies ranging from start-ups to OEMs."

The project has been carried out in partnership with the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Automotive Council UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK.

Professor Bradley Yorke Biggs, IDE CEO, said: “Digitalisation doesn’t just allow us to deliver better quality products faster and cheaper, it will unlock new business models and markets.

“By using technology in a smarter way, we will also free our engineers to think more creatively.

“We know the challenges ahead are tough. It is only by harnessing the power of digital, and creating a step-change in productivity, that we stand a chance of meeting them.

“Net Zero, for example, in the near-term we need better electric vehicles and more efficient renewables.

“Longer-term, we may be looking at a whole new hydrogen economy. The UK can lead the delivery of these futures – the Digitalisation Roadmap shows us how.”

The interactive roadmap, and a downloadable PDF, can be found at: https://roadmap.ide.uk/

For more information, visit: https://www.ideuk.org/digitalisation-roadmap

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 21/49

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