PREMCAR is celebrating 30 years of Australian automotive engineering and manufacturing, marking three decades since the Melbourne-based operation began life as Tickford working on performance-enhanced Ford models. 

Founded locally on September 11, 1996, Premcar has since contributed to more than 200,000 new vehicles and 55,000 performance engines, evolving from its Ford-focused origins into an engineering and secondary manufacturing partner for OEMs from Australia, Japan, the United States, China, and Europe.

Today, its best-known local programs include Nissan’s Warrior by Premcar range and the recently launched Mitsubishi Triton Raider.

Premcar CEO Bernie Quinn

Premcar CEO Bernie Quinn said the anniversary demonstrated the depth of automotive engineering expertise that remains in Australia despite the end of large-scale domestic vehicle manufacturing.

“Today marks 30 years of Australian know-how delivering world-class cars,” he said.

“Since 1996, this Australian operation has been the go-to for carmakers looking to create exciting new cars for passionate customers.

“After 30 years, Premcar is busier than ever – and we have big future plans.”

Mitsubishi Triton Raider by Premcar

The company’s Australian story began under the Tickford name, initially producing special-edition and performance-enhanced Ford Falcons while also undertaking right-hand drive conversions of the Ford Mustang for the Australian market.

Its work expanded substantially following Prodrive’s acquisition of Tickford internationally, with the local operation subsequently becoming Prodrive Automotive Technologies. 

That period also led to the establishment of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), a joint venture between Ford Australia and Prodrive that produced some of the country’s most memorable locally developed performance cars.

FPV models have since become increasingly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors, particularly as Australia’s locally manufactured performance-car era has receded further into history.

Premcar’s engineering expertise remained closely tied to Ford products through the final years of local Falcon production. 

Its powertrain work included the 2014 FPV GT F and later Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo Sprint and XR8 Sprint models launched in 2016.

In 2018, Premcar also released its Holy Grail performance package for final-generation Falcon models.

The Premcar name itself dates from 2012, when the Australian business was acquired through a management buyout.

Nissan WARRIOR by Premcar

Under owners Bernie Quinn and Jim Jovanovski, the operation broadened its focus beyond traditional performance-car development to encompass niche vehicle programs, secondary-stage manufacturing, electrification, defence, and aerospace engineering.

Its relationship with Nissan became one of the clearest examples of that expansion. 

Premcar began development work on the Navara Warrior program in 2018, leading to the launch of the Navara N-Trek Warrior the following year.

That was followed by the Navara PRO-4X Warrior in 2021 and Navara SL Warrior in 2022, before the partnership expanded to the Nissan Patrol Warrior in 2023.

The program reached a significant milestone in 2024 when Premcar completed its 10,000th Warrior vehicle. 

Each Warrior derivative is subjected to local engineering, validation and secondary manufacturing work aimed at adapting the donor vehicle to Australian conditions and customer requirements.

Premcar expanded its Epping operations in Melbourne’s north to support that growth, opening an engineering and manufacturing centre of excellence in 2019 and a second facility in 2023.

The company’s capabilities have also extended beyond conventional passenger and four-wheel drive vehicles.

Nissan Navara N-Trek WARRIOR by Premcar

In 2015, Premcar undertook a helicopter development program for a major Japanese manufacturer, while in 2020 it co-developed an electric vehicle platform for a large Chinese OEM. 

It has also undertaken engineering work for manufacturers across multiple international markets, much of which remains confidential because of contractual arrangements with its clients.

In 2023, the company demonstrated another side of its engineering capability with a Ford Bronco resto-mod unveiled during Monterey Car Week in the United States.

More recently, Premcar’s locally developed engineering expertise has been applied to Mitsubishi’s Triton Raider, launched in Australia this year.

The program represents another significant OEM partnership for the company and broadens a business model established successfully with Nissan.

Premcar was also recognised by SAE-A Australasia in 2025 with its Leader in Innovation – Overall award.

Despite Australia no longer producing passenger vehicles at mass-market scale, Premcar’s continued expansion highlights the automotive engineering and low-volume manufacturing capability that remains locally.

The company now operates across automotive, defence and aerospace sectors, offering complete vehicle development, niche-model engineering and manufacturing, and EV conversion and production services.

Its three-decade portfolio spans more than 200,000 vehicles and 55,000 engines, encompassing everything from Falcon performance models and Mustang conversions to current-generation four-wheel drives and electrified vehicle projects.

For Premcar, however, the anniversary is being treated less as a look back than a marker of what comes next.

“Much more is planned and already underway,” said Mr Quinn.