CEO

Semcon, an international engineering and technologies firm, has signed a contract with an unnamed global automotive partner to develop autonomous vehicles in Brazil.

The assignment is part of Semcon’s global strategy to involve cutting edge expertise in high-tech development projects from different nations.

Initially, the agreement will involve ten specialists from Semcon in Brazil and four from Europe, who will work in close coordination with the customer in a joint development project.

Semcon president and CEO Markus Granlund said: "By moving parts of the project the customer can also benefit from lower tax through the Brazilian support scheme for the automotive industry, Inovar Auto.

"In this way we are helping to reduce the customer´s costs while providing additional expertise."

"In this way we are helping to reduce the customer´s costs while providing additional expertise."

Most of the assignment was given to Brazil as a result of Semcon’s experience of coordinating projects in various places across the globe and access to local skills in the country.

The new contract deals with a project that includes software development related to autonomic or driverless driving.

Markus Granlund added: "Semcon has had a global presence for many years and has advanced processes in place for dividing work between countries.

"As costs rise and expertise is becoming harder to find in Europe, we are seeing huge potential in spreading high-tech projects to more of our offices around the world."

Semcon was founded in Sweden and has been operating in Brazil since 2006 with about 180 employees.

The company focused on engineering services and product information sectors has nearly 3,000 employees with significant experience from a varied range of industries.

Last year, the annual sales of the company reached to SEK2.7bn ($319m) and it has operations at over 40 sites in the UK, India, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Brazil, China, Hungary and Spain.

Image: Semcon president and CEO Markus Granlund said the project will provide additional expertise. Photo: courtesy of Semcon.