CRANFIELD (INGHILTERRA) (ITALPRESS) – Nissan’s innovative autonomous evolvAD driving project has been awarded the “Collaborate to Innovate (C2i) Automotive Award 2025” promoted by The Engineer. A recognition that testifies to the company’s contribution in redefining the boundaries of innovation applied to mobility on today’s roads. Delivered at the headquarters of the Institute of Civil Engineering by the sponsors of the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the award values the work of engineers of the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) and partners of the consortium in addressing one of the most important challenges for the automotive sector: making vehicles connected and autonomous (CAV – Connected and Autonomous Vehicles) reliable, safe and ready for daily use. The goal is also a step forward in strengthening the British supply chain needed for future commercial development. “Seeing a Nissan LEAF autonomously driving under both urban and rural conditions was a moment of great satisfaction, which crowns an excellent engineering work. On behalf of Nissan’s entire evolvAD team and our partners, it is a privilege to receive this recognition from colleagues in the industry. This project demonstrates the strength of collaboration between industry, academic world and public institutions. evolvAD not only accelerates the development of Nissan’s autonomous driving technology, but also consolidates the UK’s position as a global reference in the innovation of connected and autonomous vehicles,” said Robert Bateman, evolvAD Project Manager and Manager of Nissan’s Research and Advanced Engineering team, Nissan Technical Centre Europe. evolvAD collects the legacy of the previous HumanDrive and ServCity research projects, supported by Nissan, and approaches autonomous mobility to reality as part of the company’s global vision for a safer, cleaner and more inclusive world. Developed by a consortium of five partners with Nissan in the role of technical leader, the project was co-financed by industry and public sector. The government contribution comes from the Government’s Intelligent Mobility Fund, amounting to £100 million, is administered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and managed by the UK Innovation Agency, Innovate UK. Nissan LEAF 100% electric second generation, equipped with advanced systems, with a driver sitting instead of driving attentive to the surrounding traffic, but without hands on the steering wheel. The tests took place in residential urban areas, characterized by narrow roadways, and along rural roads, with higher speeds, winding curves and limited or absent road signs. The main objective of the evolvAD research project is to integrate transversal skills such as vehicle engineering, digital infrastructure, communication and security, to develop solutions that apply far beyond the boundaries of traditional test circuits. With a focus on the possibility of mass diffusion and the strengthening of UK skills, the project aims not only to advance in the field of autonomous driving, but also to provide British suppliers with tools and perspectives to compete in a rapidly changing global technological scenario.
photo: Nissan Italia press office
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