FCA Software Center is opened in Apollo Street – NE10

(Photo: Mayra Cavalcanti / NE10)

By 2016, Pernambuco will have a Center for Research, Development, Innovation and Automotive Engineering of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) made up of four automotive intelligence units. They will be located in Recife, Jaboatão dos Guararapes and Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in the metropolitan area, and in Goiás, in the Zona da Mata. The first, the Software Centre, was opened on the morning of Wednesday (2) and is located at Rua Cais do Apolo, in Recife’s center.

The new center is intended for development of automotive software for control engines and transmissions, with the aim of improving the efficiency of cars, reduce fuel consumption and emission of polluting gases. Currently, 210 professionals already work at the site, but the expectation is that, in total, are hired 500 people in technical fields and engineering.

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According to the president of the FCA for Latin America, Stefan Ketter, the units work together with eight universities of Pernambuco and Paraíba, in addition to Porto Digital. “The automotive market is going through many changes, introducing technological part. The cars are increasingly digital, so develop a center to monitor this development, “said Ketter.

The president also explained the choice of Pernambuco for the implementation of the Centre. “In addition to the geographical and climatic context, which are important for the tests we conducted in automobiles, there is the proximity to the Porto Digital, which has trained more than 250 startups. We want to work together, share information. ” The property is located where the new center is historic, was chosen two years ago and has undergone renovations

Other three center units will be the projects (Cable), Vehicle Testing Center (Jaboatão) and Proving Ground (Goiás). The Projects unit is where there will be the design and development of components, engines and transmissions for cars. In the Test Center, which will be the next unit to be opened, with only 20% for completion, it will be the testing of prototypes, passing street traffic testing, materials analysis and testing in laboratories.

The Proving Ground, which will be on the perimeter of Polo Automotive Jeep in Goiás, will consist of a set of tracks and laboratories in the open, which will be used to submit the cars to various types of tests evaluating fuel consumption and performance braking, for example. “We have partners, including who are interested in making tests in the field here, because of the weather,” adds Ketter.

In all, will be invested R $ 140 million for the construction of four units of the Research Center, Development, Innovation and Automotive Engineering. The FCA also has development center in Minas Gerais (Betim), the United States and Italy. The idea is that the four work in partnership.

The opening event was attended by Geraldo Julio, mayor of Recife and Paul Hall and Raul Henry, governor and deputy governor of Pernambuco, respectively.

Partnership with educational institutions – To educate and train professionals who work at the Center involving mechanical engineering, electronics, metallurgical, chemical, production and software, as well as mechanics and test drivers, the FCA made a partnership with eight educational institutions. In Pernambuco, UFPE participate, UFRPE, the UPE, the IFPE, Senai-PE and PE-IEL. Paraiba are integrated UFPB and UFCG.

Among the courses offered are postgraduate degree in Automotive Engineering (UFPE) and specialization in Automotive Efficiency (UFPB). In addition, 38 young talents of the Center for Advanced Studies and Systems of Recife (CESAR) participated in a residency program for engineers interested in working at the Center. About 70% of them were hired

Tacaruna Factory -. When the new design of the FCA in Pernambuco was announced, it was contemplated that the Software Center was built where is the old factory Tacaruna in the neighborhood of Campo Grande, North Zone of Recife. When asked about the possible installation of an enterprise of the FCA in place, both President Stefan Ketter, as the governor Paul Chamber were evasive in answers, but made sure that nothing was ruled out.

“We are still talking to FCA, is a subject that will be for 2016 lacks some understanding, “said Hall. Ketter has confirmed that there are still discussions with the government about the area and the installation of any enterprise in the factory remains in question.