British kit-car know-how will be used to help a Japanese company to develop rolling chassis for electric vehicles which, it is hoped, will go on sale in the Far East and Europe in less than a year’s time.
Neues, a company based in Osaka, plans to sell licences to build its chassis, which can then be bodied however the customer wants – rather like Rolls-Royces of old. Ideas for the sort of cars that might be produced are on display at the fourth Taiwan EV Show.
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The company’s head of EV development, Keisuke Imada, is a great admirer of the flexibility and small-scale production capabilities of British kit-car companies and wants to tap into their knowledge for things like braking systems, lights, pedals and mirrors.
“We are searching for good suppliers and the UK has a history of kit cars and classical innovation which we want to use to make an attractive car,” said Imada. “I plan to visit the UK in June or July to search out manufacturers.”
Neues began work on the project two years ago and has developed two chassis – one for a four- or six-seater car and another for a 10- to 16-seater commuter vehicle.
“We have finished our initial tests and started to make some units for endurance runs, which will begin right after the show,” said Imada. “We want to finish all the specification by October.”
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By GlobalDataThe complete car on display in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, is like a scaled-down London black cab, but there is also a body for a potential two-seater sports car.
“Our target is to develop a platform like a rolling chassis and let coachbuilders finish it. It could be any kind of body,” added Imada.
The platform is being developed for front-, rear- and all-wheel drive and to allow different battery capacities and electric motor power outputs.
A company in the Philippines is likely to be first to market with a vehicle based on a Neues chassis next March, but there has also been interest from a Turkish manufacturer which has plans to sell throughout Europe. Neues is also in talks with someone in Japan.
“We are happy to open our technology to other companies but we will provide a fixed jig for the assembly line. You have to get the know-how from us through the assembly jig,” said Imada.
Neues – the German word for ‘new’ – is a division of Nakanishi Metal Works, which makes 30% of all bearing retainers sold worldwide and 80% of those on Japanese cars. It is also involved in assembly line conveyors and electric forklifts and, from there, has progressed to electric cars.
The name Neues was chosen because Nakanishi’s CEO is a Porsche fanatic, and even has his own Porsche racing team in Japan.
