Purpose

The Foresight Vehicle Initiative, now administered by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT), is the UK's prime knowledge transfer network for the automotive industry, and is the UK's response to the worldwide crisis in transport; for more about SMMT click here.

Affluent societies demand increasing personal mobility and a range of goods that depend on an extensive distribution network. Modern industry must operate in a global market and have an efficient transport system to provide its raw materials and distribute its products. At the same time there is serious concern about the effects of pollution, the use of energy, the increasing amounts of space that are needed for the transport infrastructure and the injuries that result from road accidents.

Worldwide, the search is on for vehicle technologies that meet modern expectations for mobility, satisfy strict environmental and safety requirements, and help sustain the competitiveness of manufacturing industry. The challenge to develop technology options that can form the basis of a sustainable transport policy is a formidable one.

Structure

The Foresight Vehicle Steering Group was set up by the Transport Panel and the DTI to define the detailed objectives of a programme designed to develop, demonstrate and exploit technology "... to stimulate the UK automotive supplier base to develop products and systems which satisfy increasingly stringent environmental requirements while meeting mass expectations for safety, performance, cost and desirability".

It consists of representatives of vehicle builders and their suppliers, independent research consultancies and university departments, government departments and user representatives such as motoring organisations.

Research Projects are brought forward through 5 Thematic Groups, whose representatives are all expert in their chosen field.

The five Thematic Groups are:

HEAFV	Hybrid, Electric, Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles
EPT	Engine Powertrain
ASSET	Software, Sensors, Electronics and Telematics
FASMAT	Advanced Structures and Materials
DMAP	Design and Manufacturing Process

The programme includes Research Networks that are focused on a specific transport issue, technology or sector. They bring together a network of organisations with the right expertise and the right sectoral profile. This profile may cover geographical location, industry sector and company size as well as technology. The network members collectively identify the research opportunities, and present proposals to meet the objectives of the Foresight Vehicle Programme.