Tata Motors adds 100 jobs at UK R&D facility

The Indian car maker already has 240 engineers and researchers working at its Warwick University facility alongside the WMG, originally the Warwick Manufacturing Group. The additional 100 staff will be taken on over the next two years as it focuses on low carbon technologies. Dr Tim Leverton, Tata's head of Advanced and Product Engineering, believes the move will be a major boost to the UK's manufacturing economy and said it represented Tata's long term commitment to build and develop R&D facilities in the UK. The company has already invested more than £85million in automotive research and development at TMETC since it was established in 2005. It recently launched its Pixel City Car, pictured, which features a Zero Turn Infinitely Variable Transmission to give it a turning circle radius of just 2.6m. The concept car, which was unveiled earlier this month, is designed for the European market and is said to be ideal for driving in dense urban environments. The company is now working on its Vista Electric Vehicle, which is due to be built at a factory in Coventry later this year. Nick Fell, director of TMETC, said "WMG and TMETC are building on five years of successful partnership to further grow TMETC's presence at the University of Warwick. We plan to further increase our team on the campus by up to 100 over the next two years and are discussing establishing test and development facilities here. This shows a clear commitment to build and develop our R&D and facilities here in the UK in collaboration with WMG for the long term."