Premcar is BUSY and there’s more to come.
2023 was huge. The Premcar team packed a lot into it.
Since beginning in Australian car-making 27 years ago, 2023 was Premcar’s biggest year. Here are some of the highlights we can share.
Nissan Navara SL WARRIOR ramps up
The latter part of 2022 saw the Nissan Navara SL WARRIOR join the award-winning Navara PRO-4X WARRIOR on Premcar’s new-vehicle assembly line in Epping, just outside Melbourne. Production of this acclaimed dual-cab 4×4 grew throughout 2023.
This second model variant from the critically acclaimed Nissan-Premcar Navara WARRIOR program introduced entry-grade value with the same Australian-market-specific design and engineering inside the award-winning Navara PRO-4X WARRIOR.
Mark Oastler, CarsGuide.com.au: “The SL Warrior is a good-looking, well-engineered and practical package that provides an alternative entry point to Warrior ownership.”
Sam Purcell, DRIVE.com.au: “…feels like a well-honed (and well-executed) off-roader that’s ready for action.”
Premcar’s Epping Production Centre manufactured its 5000th Nissan Navara WARRIOR
April saw the 5,000th Nissan Navara WARRIOR roll off Premcar’s Melbourne production line.
The white Navara PRO-4X Warrior to claim this milestone completed its full secondary new-vehicle manufacturing just a tick over three years after Navara WARRIOR production commenced at Premcar in Australia.
Joshua Dowling, DRIVE.com.au: “The 5000th example of the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior rolled off the Melbourne assembly line earlier this month – and demand is so strong, the special edition will continue to be offered indefinitely.”
The Premcar-developed Gateway Bronco LUXE-GT was unveiled at Monterey Car Week
A fascinating Premcar project made its global debut at Monterey Car Week in California during August.
Illinois-based Gateway Bronco, a leading vintage Ford Bronco specialist, pulled the covers off its all-new LUXE-GT model series, the company’s new flagship model line.
Gateway Bronco turned to Premcar to develop the LUXE-GT’s chassis platform and suspension systems. Fitted with a vintage-style Bronco body made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), it’s equipped with Ford’s latest 343 kW / 460 horsepower 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 engine, 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission, and two-stage shift-on-the-fly all-wheel drive system.
It also features current-day safety systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC) and Anti-lock braking (ABS), giving drivers modern safety support as well as impressive current-day sports car ride, handling and steering performance.
As one fan described it, this is the vintage Bronco version of Singer’s million-dollar Porsche 911 range.
The LUXE-GT attracted a lot of attention at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. It was displayed alongside various million-dollar brands, including supercars by RUF and Pagani.
It even attracted the attention of Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey. The legendary Formula One designer spent time studying the car’s underside, a proud moment for the Premcar team.
PerformanceDrive: “Premcar has taken the US Monterey Car Week by storm with the unveiling of its latest collaboration with Gateway Bronco…”
Robb Report: “The LUXE-GT may look like a classic Bronco, but it won’t act like one. That’s because its mechanical hardware is all new.”
The Nissan Patrol WARRIOR begins production at Premcar
The success of the Premcar-enhanced Navara dual-cab 4×4 models quickly had Australian buyers asking for a WARRIOR-enhanced Nissan Patrol 4×4 SUV.
The first-ever Australian-developed Nissan Patrol WARRIOR was presented to the national media in September, with Australian production beginning in full swing in October.
CarExpert’s Paul Maric: “…it is arguably the King off-road…”.
Glenn Butler, DRIVE.com.au: “…there’s not much else that gives you this level of interior comfort and luxury and this level of off-road ability.”
Premcar opens another new-car production factory
Continued demand for the popular Nissan Navara WARRIOR range, the addition of the Nissan Patrol WARRIOR and increasing numbers of other new-vehicle engineering projects saw Premcar’s Australian manufacturing operations double in size.
An extra new-car secondary manufacturing centre commenced operations in late September. Situated less than a kilometre from Premcar’s main Engineering Centre in Epping (VIC), the opening of this all-new factory expanded Premcar’s secondary manufacturing footprint to more than 13,000 square metres.
Andrew Chesterton, CarsGuide.com.au: “The Premcar business now employs some 150 people in Epping, with that number growing – in fact, the company is in the process of doubling its manufacturing footprint.”
Stephen Ottley, The Australian: “Premcar, which also has contracts with the defence industry, already employs 150 people on its manufacturing side and is reportedly looking to expand. But beyond that, Premcar is helping to support the wider manufacturing industry by working with local suppliers, rather than overseas alternatives.”
The Premcar team keeps expanding
Doubling our Australian manufacturing capacity has meant employing more local staff. This year has seen the Premcar team grow 40%, with more people being sought.
A number of our team members have been with us for more than 20 years and welcoming new people into our team is one of the greatest joys.
Want to join the Premcar team? Check out our Careers page.
There’s even more
These are just some of this year’s highlights. There are others.
But the point is clear: demand for Premcar’s new-vehicle development, engineering and manufacturing skills are strong – and always growing.
It’s similar for much of Australia’s new-car development community.
That’s the view of Andrew Chesterton from CarsGuide.com.au, who recently reported “The boom is being driven by our relatively new “remanufacturing” industry… and being spearheaded by companies like Premcar…”.
By various measures we’re now bigger than our Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) days.
It’s no surprise. Having spent my entire engineering and business career inside Australia’s car-making sector, our country’s abilities here are world-class. The scale of car-making industry success in countries like South Korea, Japan and China are the combination of many factors, and car-making know-how is a big part of it.
It’s why so many of them seek it from Australia.
Doesn’t that say something?
Bernie Quinn – Engineering Director, Premcar Pty Ltd
About Premcar – Premcar Pty Ltd is a leading Australian vehicle engineering business that specialises in the automotive, defence and aerospace industries. For more than 25 years, global car-makers have made Premcar their go-to partner for the complete design, engineering and manufacture of niche-model new cars, full-scale new-vehicle development programs, and electric vehicle (EV) conversions and manufacturing. As the name behind more than 200,000 new cars and 55,000 new-vehicle engines, Premcar’s body of work is extensive and has delivered technical and sales success for major car brands from Europe, the USA, Japan, China and Australia. Visit premcar.au.
Follow Premcar on Instagram – @premcaraustralia
Follow Premcar on LinkedIn – @Premcar Pty Ltd
