North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) Participates in North American Automotive Testing Expo

Novi, MI, October 24, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Representatives of North Carolina’s Northeast Economic Development Commission and the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) are among the 370 exhibitors at this week's Automotive Testing Expo North America at the Rock Financial Showplace. The three-day event features the world's leading automotive testing equipment manufacturers and test service providers. NCCAR Board member, Gary Brown said, "This is the third year we’ve participated in the Automotive Testing Expo. Design validation was our focus the first two years. The project has generated a lot of interest on the part of companies large and small, and they’ve provided us invaluable advice as to how we can best meet their research and development requirements. Now, with NCCAR construction looming, our emphasis has shifted to business development."

Also representing NCCAR at the Expo is Ray White, Marketing Director of North Carolina's Northeast Commission. "Automotive is one of the marketing clusters that we emphasize in our 16-county region. By making contact with automotive suppliers and industry leaders, we bring more technology home to Northeastern North Carolina," said White. Vann Rogerson, President/CEO of North Carolina's Northeast Commission stated, "Our goal at the commission is to diversify our economy and expand the capacity for creating new jobs. The automotive industry provides opportunities in an area of the economy where we can expand and entice other similar companies to the region." One recent addition to the automotive marketing cluster is the announcement of Microcell, a hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer opening its production facility in Robersonville, NC. Microcell uses advanced technology to produce fuel cells as an alternative energy source for automotive and other uses.

While the company's project team is in Detroit, geotechnical engineering, final topographic surveying, and selective hydroaxe clearing is underway on-site in preparation for construction. NCCAR is also soliciting candidates for the position of Chief Operating Officer for the corporation. The solicitation has been published in automotive trade publications and through other means to reach a broad industry audience. NCCAR board member Wayne Jenkins commented, “We’re seeking a uniquely skilled and experienced individual, someone with a strong background in automotive industry, particularly engineering, combined with exceptional business development and management talents. Our intent is to wrap-up the recruitment process soon and have that individual on-board by year’s end.”

NCCAR, formerly known as the Advanced Vehicle Research Center, is an independent automotive research, development and testing facility situated near the Virginia border along Interstate 95 in Northampton County, NC. Once completed, the facility will feature a 3.7 mile ride and handling course designed by Lotus Engineering; client garages with virtual office connectivity; vehicle dynamics area; and chassis dynamics laboratory.

About NCCAR:
The North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) is a modern automotive testing facility for use in the design, development, testing and certification of advanced vehicle technologies, sub-systems and components. NCCAR is a State funded initiative that is designed to combine the resources and skills of North Carolina's industries, academic institutions and strategies to put North Carolina at the front of advanced vehicle technologies and hence jobs. The Research Center is a public-private partnership that matches the talents of multi-national automotive companies with those of North Carolina's leading universities. NCCAR is world class and focused on next generation research and development in the automotive industry.
For more information, www.nccar.us

About: North Carolina’s Northeast Commission
North Carolina’s Northeast Commission is dedicated to increasing the standard of living for citizens in its sixteen-county region through tourism, industrial, and business development. The 16 counties that comprise the regional Commission are: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. For more information about the North Carolina’s Northeast Commission, contact them at www.ncnortheast.com and www.visitncne.com.

About: Lotus:
Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognized automotive engineering consultant based in Hethel, Norfolk, UK. Its global facilities include those in Michigan and North Carolina, USA and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and offices in Germany and China. It provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's car manufacturers and tier one automotive suppliers, from initial concept and project design through development to full production prototype build.

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