GWANGJU < invest Korea

(GWANGJU=Yonhap News) The City of Gwangju and the UK-based Horiba Mira Ltd., a top European automotive research institute, have agreed to work together on transforming Gwangju into a leading environment-friendly automotive city.

The collaboration will add R&D to the city's list of efforts to vitalize the local automotive industry, which currently includes creating an eco-friendly auto parts cluster, attracting investment from China's Jiangsu Joylong Automobile Company, encouraging sales of locally produced electric vehicles (EVs), and supplying electric and hydrogen-powered cars.

At the city hall on Mar. 20, Gwangju City, along with the Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency, signed a business agreement with Horiba Mira to cooperate on nurturing and developing the eco-friendly automotive industry.

Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hun, Horiba Mira's Chief Strategy Officer Geoff Davis, and Gwangju Green Car Promotion Agency President Oh Il-geun participated in the signing ceremony.

The three parties agreed to collaborate on leading the global effort to cultivate and develop eco-friendly car industries, and respond to the rapid changes in the automobile industry environment by sharing and developing technologies, as well as by building an organic network.

They will also work on creating a joint task force and international joint research center to keep up with changes in the world automobile industry, as well as participate in and support each other's exhibitions, forums, seminars, conferences, etc., that are related to the industry.

Located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK, Horiba Mira began in 1945 as Mira, a government-funded research institute to support the auto industry, was privatized in the 1970s, and later sold to the Japanese supplier of measurement technology and systems Horiba Group in 2015.

Horiba Mira employs around 600 engineers at various company sites covering 3,440,000m² of land.

The company owns 37 facilities for durability and crash tests, etc., as well as a 93km-long proving ground, the worlds' largest in scale.

Based on the agreement, Gwangu will consult with the company on eco-friendly automobile R&D, technology tests, and on entering foreign markets.

The Mira Technology Park is home to carmakers such as Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, Toyota, as well as global auto parts makers such as Bosch and Haldex.

Horiba Mira also works in close cooperation with Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor, Ssangyong Motor, Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company, and Hyundai Mobis.

Gwangju expects the collaboration with Horiba Mira and Jiangsu Joylong Automobile Company will help the city develop core engineering technologies for EVs, including two-wheeled EVs, and give local EV parts makers a competitive edge through technological sharing and joint research opportunities,

The agreement will also lead to business opportunities for local auto parts makers to sign with carmakers in the UK.

Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun noted, city officials worked hard on persuading Horiba Mira, recently visiting the company and explaining Gwangju's infrastructure, such as the eco-friendly auto parts company cluster, and suggesting that they work together on finding a way to respond to the rapid changes in the global automobile industry, adding, the city believes the collaboration will help boost its eco-friendly car initiative.

Horiba Mira's Chief Strategy Officer Geoff Davis said his company will do its best to be of assistance to Gwangju's eco-friendly car initiative, using the company's technological prowess accumulated for over 70 years, as well as its wide range of facilities including proving grounds, test facilities, and engineering centers.

nicepen@yna.co.kr

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Source: Yonhap News (Mar. 20, 2017)