I would like to thank my predecessor Professor Richard Folkson and also his immediate predecessors for handing over a division in such good health. We are financially stable, achieving good attendances at events and we have the ear of government in a way that could have only been dreamed about five years ago.

With the government’s Technology Strategy Board sharing the success of our recent Low Carbon Vehicles Conference as primary sponsor and with agreement having been reached for collaboration with the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) IMechE has never been better placed to set the agenda for the automotive sector.

I take over the chair of the Automobile Division of the IMechE at a time that appears particularly challenging for the automobile industry. With what was, for many years, the world's biggest car company (GM) now bankrupt and car sales suffering an historic slump, it would be easy to become depressed, but in my view there is much for automotive engineers to be optimistic about.

The targets set by the EU government for reducing the CO2 emissions of vehicles have set us a significant challenge - and I like a challenge!

Having spent 17 years working in the Formula One racing industry with Cosworth, TWR Arrows and the Renault F1 Team I appreciate the resourcefulness of engineers when faced with a clearly defined set of technical regulations. As the current owner of an automotive engineering business developing hybrid systems I can also appreciate the commercial opportunities that will be created by the emergence of a whole new suite of green technologies.

This is a great time to be an automotive engineer. There is an ever-growing world of people out there who need solutions that only we can provide. There is now a premium price to be put on the reduction of CO2 and the winning solutions will be high quality and technically intricate, not more of the same for an ever-reducing price. There are real opportunities to create wealth and jobs in low carbon technologies and IMechE members are at the centre of these opportunities.

Please come along and be inspired at our events throughout this year. Now is a great time to mix with like-minded positive people and to secure technical and commercial contacts that make a real difference to you and your employer. I hope to see you there.

Jon Hilton FIMechE CEng
Managing Partner
Flybrid Systems LLP