Kingster Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 From Bbc website Westfield Sportscars, a British carmaker, will be responsible for manufacturing and testing of the pods. Heathrow Enterprise will design the software while a third British firm, Oxbotica, will provide mapping and other sensors to ensure the vehicles are safe. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35432687 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I think it's good news for the future of WSC in terms of acquiring new skill sets and increased income, certainly. Hats off for diversification. However, I would argue that based on the way I've seen one of two former club members behave on the roads, Westfield developed driverless cars some time ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKARM Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Was just about to post this. Hope they employ some more staff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welly Jen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Sounds like a good fit for Westfield's skills, despite not being their traditional product. Smart thinking on the managements part. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I suspect our little corner of the web is going to see a LOT more views over the next few days/weeks as people google "westfield sportscars" Is there any way we can easily (EASILY) look at those metrics? I don't want to overload the web team with work but I think it would be an interesting exercise. Tigger should probably watch out too if he's on a pay per MB contract for his web site... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I suspect our little corner of the web is going to see a LOT more views over the next few days/weeks as people google "westfield sportscars" Is there any way we can easily (EASILY) look at those metrics? I don't want to overload the web team with work but I think it would be an interesting exercise. Tigger should probably watch out too if he's on a pay per MB contract for his web site... If you put in a request to Ade at webmaster@wscc.co.uk, he might be able to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Oh, and that thing is NOT going on our Silverstone parade lap in July! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welly Jen Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Oh, and that thing is NOT going on our Silverstone parade lap in July! If the Greenwich Automated Transport Environment Project people join the WSCC in time I'm not sure we could stop them. They'd be club members in a Westfield! Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamperMan Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 A lot of westfields can be seen driverless on the road.... Either on trailer or AA lorry 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 A lot of Caterhams can be seen driverless on the road.... on a recovery lorry Fixed that for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemesis Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I can't wait for Red Ken to be posting something like... "rang the parts department today looking for half a dozen juggle sprockets to go on the gizmo's...... website said they were in stock..... turns out they're not..... and I have to pay up front to order them..... and they can't tell me a lead time..... and and and and ............" Can't wait honestly...... Nem....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Car Electronics Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Good for Westfield to have another revenue stream, but given their size, I can't believe this won't impact the car building/ parts supply negatively to some extent. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Good for Westfield to have another revenue stream, but given their size, I can't believe this won't impact the car building/ parts supply negatively to some extent. Fingers crossed i can't imagine it would be any more disruptive to the business than any of their other recent development projects such as the i-racer, hybrid, mega 2000, sports 250 or the new GTM.Back in the mid-1990's they even produced seats for mini busses !! And don't forget the TRZ Mini, Topaz Sports Coupe, GP Midget, Sports 2000 prototype and the WISPER ( Westfield In Structural Plastics Electric Racer). I see this contract as good thing for the company, as it should help to safeguard the future of the business and jobs for a few more years to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 i can't imagine it would be any more disruptive to the business than any of their other recent development projects such as the i-racer, hybrid, mega 2000, sports 250 or the new GTM.Back in the mid-1990's they even produced seats for mini busses !!And don't forget the TRZ Mini, Topaz Sports Coupe, GP Midget, Sports 2000 prototype and the WISPER ( Westfield In Structural Plastics Electric Racer).I see this contract as good thing for the company, as it should help to safeguard the future of the business and jobs for a few more years to come. I'd like to see if any of them made good amounts of profit for them. Or if profits weren't the goal then what was the benefit to Westfield? How do these projects take the company forward and assist with their primary business goals? I agree that diversifying is generally a good idea right up until it costs more than it makes. How many of those lines were discontinued because they were simply not selling any of them? How were the development costs reconciled? What happened to the parts that were not transferable to other projects? I'm not being cynical or bashing anyone, but I am interested in the practicalities. I am also minded that Westfield is (was?) up for sale. Nothing will help impress buyers more than new and exciting developments which by definition can't really be accurately quantified so early in the project cycle. Projections and promises aren't really worth very much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Might be wrong but wouldn't something like this have gone out to tender ? Therefore the price would be fixed pre production and presumably on a batch basis , and assuming Westfield have done there sums correctly the profit margin should be a foregone conclusion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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