A new £1.8m fund to encourage businesses to move beyond manufacturing internal combustion engines and to instead produce low carbon vehicle technologies, is being established by Ford and the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government said that the fund would help "stimulate innovative economic growth in Wales."
The Ford Low Carbon Vehicle Transition Fund, administered by the Welsh Government as part of Ford’s "legacy" in Cymru, will address strategic industrial technical challenges associated with low carbon vehicles.
There will be a clear focus on commercialisation and exploitation of new products, processes or services, and growing capacity in low carbon technologies.
Projects must align with one of the following Automotive Council Roadmaps:
Electrical Energy Storage;
Electric Machines;
Power Electronics;
Fuel Cell;
Lightweight Vehicle & Powertrain Structure.
The new fund will open for applications on Monday 20 September 2021.
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “The Welsh Government has a clear focus on helping create new green jobs in the industries of the future. We want Wales to be a country that’s at the forefront of innovating new technologies that will benefit people in their day-to-day lives.
“Innovation is absolutely key to the Welsh Government’s low carbon delivery plan and in our response to the climate emergency. So the launch of this new fund by Ford and the Welsh Government is a fantastic opportunity for companies across the country to be at the forefront of creating new, innovative low carbon vehicle technologies.”