Automotive Testing Facility Moves Forward with Operational Plans

Northampton County, NC – The North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) has met another strategic development objective, this one the selection of its Chief Operating Officer (COO). NCCAR today announced that Simon Cobb, most recently Director of North Carolina Operations of Lotus Engineering, Inc., has been selected to lead business and program development for the corporation.

Mr. Cobb stated, “NCCAR provides an excellent means for transitioning research and development to real-world product applications for the automotive industry. I’m looking forward to joining the management team and taking a larger role in what is a very exciting project.”

The NCCAR board of directors began the COO search in August of last year, intent on finding the right individual for the job.

NCCAR board member Dr. Steve Margolis stated, “As we move forward with construction and anticipate opening our doors, it is vital that we accelerate our business development and implement our operating plan. Lotus Engineering has been a strong ally in project development, and Simon has worked closely with our board and our partners throughout the state and nation. We are fortunate to have attracted a person with his skills and experience, and we are looking forward to bringing his talent and energy to the NCCAR team full-time.” Mr. Cobb will begin his work with NCCAR on April 1.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for overseeing development of all business activities including personnel as well as facility management, testing services and related educational and research programs. The role requires a multi-disciplinary combination of experience, education and skills in organizational and business management, engineering, finance, and marketing.

“For a long time, I’ve known that the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research is one of those once in a lifetime projects which will have a tremendous and lasting impact on the automotive industry. This is a very challenging time for the industry, here in the US and globally. Never before have such intensive pressures been applied under such tough commercial circumstances. NCCAR is perfectly positioned to assist the automotive industry and supply base in meeting these challenges,” Cobb stated.

Vann Rogerson, President and CEO of North Carolina’s Northeast Commission stated, “Mr. Cobb is a great addition to NCCAR, and we look forward to working with him to bring additional automotive companies into the region. With Microcell’s recent announcement in Martin County, and with our recent activity from automotive trade shows, we know that companies are ready for the site to open.”

Progress is underway. In November 2007, the Northampton County Commissioners approved an industrial access road agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. More recently, project engineers and architects have completed construction design and are finalizing construction documents in anticipation of construction bidding in the next few weeks. The Center is scheduled to be fully operational in September 2009.

During his 22 years with Lotus Engineering in both the US and the United Kingdom, Mr. Cobb has worked as development engineer, senior project manager and vice president of sales. His technical work has included electro-hydraulic suspension, engine valve control and control “by-wire” technologies; base engine development (gasoline and diesel); electronic engine calibration; and future powertrain concepts. Mr. Cobb previously held positions with Ford Motor Company (in the US and the United Kingdom) and Perkins Diesel Engines (United Kingdom). He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University in England.

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 us at www.ncnortheast.com and www.visitncne.com.