A major technology company for the automotive industry has made the move to Warwick to be closer to one of its largest customers as the sector continues to accelerate.
Visteon, which employs more than 10,000 people in 17 countries, has opened an office at Warwick Innovation Centre, part of the University of Warwick Science Park.
As part of its customer-centric strategy, the move further deepens the strong partnership with a key client in its portfolio - Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) based in Gaydon.
Visteon – which recorded sales of $3.76 billion in 2022 – delivers next-generation digital cockpit and electrification products used in the vehicles of many major automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as the industry’s first ever cockpit domain controller, infotainment systems, instrument clusters, battery management systems, and more.
It has enjoyed a long-working relationship with JLR, who have become one of Visteon’s biggest customers. Visteon has pioneered a number of products with JLR over the many years of their partnership. Today, the company is supplying technology leading products to every single Jaguar and Land Rover production vehicle.
With the increasing transformation of the industry and complexity of automotive technology, Visteon’s new office has better links to Gaydon that also offers flexibility for the local team.
Andy Morton, JLR Customer Unit Business Director and Site Lead at Visteon, said: “In the past, electronic components for cars, such as AM/FM radios, were simple to supply. A lot of the time, the same device could be sold to a wide variety of OEMs.
“However, over the last few years, systems in cars have become more integrated and specific to particular OEMs, which means companies like ours have to work with them much more closely.
Having contacted Jane Talbot, Centre Manager at the Warwick Innovation Centre, to book a viewing in early spring, it only took six months for the move to materialise.
Ian Scott, Managing Director of Visteon for the UK and Vice President of its European Customer Group, added: “The move to the Warwick Innovation Centre will ensure our team will be best placed to work with JLR to produce high-quality electronic systems for its latest range of vehicles.
“The fellow automotive companies based here and its links to the University of Warwick were also very attractive, and will mean we can access cutting-edge research in the industry alongside great talent coming out of the university.
“And in an industry that is moving faster and faster, the fact that it only took six months from our first enquiry to opening the office here is fantastic. Jane and the team were superb to deal with throughout.
“We are confident our new office at the Warwick Innovation Centre will be the perfect place to develop our customer business relationships.”
Jane Talbot, Centre Manager at the Warwick Innovation Centre, said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome Visteon to the Warwick Innovation Centre, and they’ve settled in very quickly.
“The Warwick Innovation Centre is home to many cutting-edge companies within the automotive sector, so we’re delighted Visteon has joined them.”
CAPTION – From left: Ian Scott, Andy Morton, Jane Talbot, Gary Waller (Program Director at Visteon), and Loick Griselain (Vice President and General Manager of Visteon Europe), at Warwick Innovation Centre