Business News


Project Vector: bold foray into driverless cars


Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a bold new electric and autonomous concept vehicle, named Project Vector. The vehicle is part of the car


manufacturer’s Destination Zero mission, which is to achieve zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion, through its products, services and across its facilities. The Project Vector concept is a multi-use electric vehicle that the firm say is ‘autonomy-ready’. Chief executive Professor Sir Ralf


Speth said: “Project Vector shows Jaguar Land Rover as a leader in innovation to make our societies safer and healthier, and the


Boom in turnover for Midlands firms


Mid-sized businesses in the Midlands have boosted international turnover by 68 per cent in the last five years – reporting faster growth overseas than in domestic markets. That’s according to research


from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, who say Midlands’ growth rate figure matches the national average (68 per cent) but exceeds the overseas sales growth reported in other regions including the South East (59 per cent) and Yorkshire (51 per cent). The research also looked at


total sales growth across regional companies. It analysed businesses in what BDO dubs the ‘Economic Engine’ which comprises companies in the £10m- £300m turnover bracket, AIM- listed companies or private equity-backed businesses. Of the 3,059 West Midlands


businesses analysed, overall sales increased by 64 per cent on average in the last five years. UK-wide, sectors which


experienced good international growth included consumer markets, manufacturing and healthcare.


22 CHAMBERLINK March 2020


environment cleaner. “Through this project, we are


collaborating with the brightest minds in academia, supply chain and digital services, to create connected, integrated mobility systems – the fundamental building blocks for Destination Zero. “Project Vector is precisely the


brave and innovative leap forward needed to deliver on our mission.” The compact vehicle measures just four metres in length and is


designed for city use, packaging all its battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor, to allow for a variety of uses. The interior cabin space allows


seating configurations for private and shared commercial use. It has been developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre. Dr. Tim Leverton, project director,


‘Our vision shows the vehicle as a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes’


said: “Future urban travel will be a composite of owned and shared vehicles, access to ride hailing and on-demand services as well as public transport. “Our vision shows the vehicle as


a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes.” JLR will now work with Coventry


City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to test the vehicle in Coventry.


• JLR boss to retire – pages 40-41


Presidential gathering: Steve Allen (sixth from left) welcomes some of his predecessors


Past presidents meet to welcome Steve into fold


Past presidents of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) gathered to welcome their successor Steve Allen into the fold. The past presidents dinner took place at the Birmingham offices of law firm Mills & Reeve. New Chamber president Steve is a partner and head


of Mills & Reeve in Birmingham. In attendance were former presidents Bridget Blow,


Christine Braddock, Greg Lowson, John Hudson, Martin Kenrick, Roger Burman, Simon Topman, Steve Brittan and Michael Ward, alongside Steve and GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner.


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