CECOMP has gained complete autonomy in the development, industrialisation and production of electrically driven vehicles, strengthening its position by establishing important collaborations, both between customers and research institutes. After an initial period of study, design, construction and engineering of prototypes, Cecomp went into production with electric vehicles and quadricycles and is now making a name for itself in the field of electric drive.
CECOMP was among the first companies to use aluminium in cars in the B-segment, and the first ever to use it as a material to make electric car bodies. Since 2010, the company has been at the forefront in this segment and has had to solve technical problems by investing significant amounts in terms of equipment (robots, plates, etc.), human resources, and R&D, becoming a leading company in Europe in aluminium moulding. In this segment today it can boast of directly supplying leading international groups.
The development of the Microlino project allowed for gain in-house expertise regarding the optimisation process of an electric light quadricycle model, designed to replicate the shape of the historic BMW ISETTA.
The automotive approach in the development of the vehicle, and in particular the steel/aluminium chassis, panelling and components, unique in its category, was necessary to meet the objectives of perceived quality, handling, and ensuring greater passenger safety, a typical sore point for quadricycles.
Designed as a self-driving vehicle of the future, it was imagined as an entrance to a venue, differing significantly from competitor cars in that it gave the guest the ability to enter it standing up without the need to stoop. The new design had no steps and allowed the upper part of the roof and the door to be raised, which instead of opening out of the body, slid towards the closed part welcoming the passenger. The Nucleus is ideally equipped with a level 5 fully autonomous driving system, so there is no steering wheel or pedals, while the cabin is configured to redefine the travelling experience.
Over the years, CECOMP has often worked with Aston Martin, from the realisation of the three one-offs in Spider, Coupé and Shooting Break versions of the DBZ models, in collaboration with Zagato, to the latest work for the construction and supply of about 40 aluminium components for the new DB11.
Given the success and excellent relationship established with CECOMP, Aston Martin entrusted to the company the production of components for four vehicle models: DB11 and Vantage, in Coupé and Convertible versions.
With the opening of the Piobesi Torinese plant in 2016 and the acquisition of the Renault order for the development of the new Alpine A110, CECOMP enters full-scale low-volume series production of cars made of Aluminium Alloy.
The aim of the prototype, realised in 2006, was to create a restyling of the Lancia Fulvia using the FIAT Barchetta as a starting point for the project.
The layout of the prototype is based on the original chassis, complete with engine and suspensions (front and rear), while a completely new exterior body was built but retaining much of the interior base.
The concept was entirely machined by CECOMP and mounted on the starting car. All the habitability tests, performance calculations and fuel consumption were carried out by CECOMP.
This is the CECOMP project with the highest international visibility and involved the creation of a high-performance and high-tech sports car road model. It is the prototype of a road car, the first in the world to have a hand-built body, made entirely of titanium “on sight”, produced to achieve the objective of studying and analysing a material hitherto unused in the automotive sector with high-performance physical and mechanical characteristics, namely: high mechanical properties, low weight-resistance ratio, high corrosion resistance, high biocompatibility and, last but not least, aesthetic appeal.
The results have been highly rewarding and have contributed decisively to the growth of the company’s know-how as well as its visibility in international markets.
After having developed numerous thermal motor vehicle projects, the focus in recent years has been on electric drive. In particular, CECOMP has developed and produced the Bluecar car for the Bolloré Group in various versions (Indy, right-hand drive, two-seater van, etc.). The Bluecar, responding to the needs of sustainable urban mobility and entering the nascent phase of Smart Cities design, was among the very first cars offered in car sharing through agreements with municipalities in a number of European cities (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux), in London, and last but not least in Turin and then overseas, in Indianapolis, USA. This has given the company the opportunity to acquire more expertise, learn about and solve critical issues, establish relationships with primary suppliers, and identify the most technically appropriate solutions.