Coventry's contribution to transportation Essay

Coventry's contribution to transportation - Essay Example The automotive industry in the United Kingdom- UK dates back to the end of the 19th century. During the 1950’s, the car manufacturing industry in the UK became the second largest in the globe falling behind to the United States (NAIGT 2008, p.89). At the time, the UK was the largest exporter of cars. In the decades following the 1950’s, the industry faced greater competition from other car manufacturing nations such as France, Japan and Germany. This led to a fall in growth of the industry. By 2008, statistics showing the production of cars by volume ranked the UK as the 12th largest car manufacturer. As competition in car making rose during after 1950, so too did the number of foreign car manufactures rise in the country (Tom, Jason & Clive 2012, p. 54). Companies such as BMW, TATA, and Volkswagen Group invaded the industry. Foreign company groups also claim a large percentage of ownership in traditional British car brands such as Rover, Triumph and Riley (Wells 2010, p. 103). Below is a picture of a Triumph Dolomite sprint car that got manufactured between 1973 and 1980; The Coventry motor industry has experienced innovations and inventions over the years as it faces competition and pressures from the market. The industry has invested heavily in modular design and technology in response to other competing automotive firms in other countries (Tom, Jason & Clive 2012, p. 13). ... This becomes possible through the industry’s extremely sophisticated systems integration skills. The industry has also seen massive technological progress since its inception. The industry has incorporated vital features to ensure vehicle safety (Tom & David 2000, p. 118). Technological progress has also seen the industry focus on issues such as fuel economy, environmental impact, comfort, performance and versatility. Technology and modern management skills have led to transformation of the industry through cutting edge design analysis, lightweight materials, extension of digital control to enable most car functions. Coventry has recently assisted in developing cars that embrace green technology such as electric cars and hydrogen powered vehicles (NAIGT 2008, p.65). The image below represents the technological advancements in green technology by the industry; Part 2: Report One sector that makes up the Coventry automotive industry gets to be research and development- R&D. the efforts of Coventry’s R&D get geared towards a technology roadmap that makes use of relevant resources to build cars that meet the consumers’ demands and environmental demands. This paper will analyze the R&D segment of Coventry’s automotive industry to determine its strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Success of the industry’s R&D will ensure that the industry remains competitive and relevant in the current global automotive industries (NAIGT 2008, p.59). The current global targets in transport aim towards decarbonizing the system by 2050, improving vehicle performance, safety and designs. R&D expenditures represent key information on the sustainability of an industry. The R& D represent an