Premcar, which was first established in 1996 as Tickford Vehicle Engineering to develop specialist models for Ford Australia, is the result of a 2012 management buyout led by current engineering director Bernie Quinn; director of business, commercial and finance Jim Jovanovski; and former FPV programs manager Paul Cook.

It has a long association with Ford though has also been responsible for development work on the Toyota supercharged TRD Aurion and Hilux, and the turbocharged Mazda MX-5 SP.

Following the closure of the local automotive manufacturing industry, Premcar was forced to expand its horizons and search for new business opportunities with a view to applying its engineering expertise across a more diverse portfolio of projects. 

This included working with defense specialists Thales on its Bushmaster and Hawkei armoured troop carriers and creating a cutting-edge helicopter for a major international brand.

Premcar engineering director Bernie Quinn said: “They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Following the closure of the local manufacturing sector – particularly FPV, which was our biggest client at the time – we certainly had to re-invent ourselves in order to survive.

“I strongly believe that Australian automotive engineers are among the best in the world, and, as professional problem solvers, Premcar’s expertise could be applied to a much broader portfolio of projects.

“In the end, the work we completed outside of the automotive sector has been beneficial for everyone. 

“For starters, Premcar brought an increased level of detail, quality and robust engineering solutions that are demanded within the automotive sector to other industries and, subsequently, our team have expanded their knowledge base with new ideas that can be applied to our future programs.”

Work has also included key Chinese automotive manufacturers and led to the development of a modular electric vehicle platform for one major brand.

Nissan Warrior

“We recognise the future of the automotive industry is rapidly changing through new technologies, and Premcar remains at the forefront of evolution,” Mr Quinn said.

“Whether it is electric powertrains, hydrogen fuel cells or autonomous driving systems, we have the knowledge, skillset and facilities to move with the times. It’s an exciting time to be contributing to the future of mobility.”

Premcar employs more than 180 highly-skilled Australians and operates from a state-of-the-art 6300 square metre multi-purpose facility in Epping, north of Melbourne.

The facility is a one-stop shop that aims to deliver complete end-to-end engineering solutions, from project ideation, design, simulation, testing and validation through to specialised manufacturing.

But it all comes down to its people that business director Jim Jovanovski said “is our strength”.

“We are extremely proud of their talents and what each of them brings to the team and the collective result of their effort is proven in the success of our programs,” he said.

Bernie Quinn

“Many of our staff are proudly loyal to the business and some have been on the journey through all three entities: Tickford, Prodrive and Premcar. In fact, our longest serving employee was almost there at the beginning with 21 years of service.

“We are all car people, and everyone at Premcar has a passion for the automotive industry to create better products.”

Premcar is certified as a secondary vehicle manufacturer in Australia with ISO9001 qualifications and has a global partnership with German-based RLE International that further expands its reach as well as providing around-the-clock access to world-class facilities and more than 6000 employees in key automotive locations around the world.

As a result, Premcar has partnered with Nissan Australia to develop and produce specialised off-road focused model variants under the Warrior nameplate that are specifically suited to handle Australia’s tough terrain and cater to the increased local demand for recreational four-wheel drives.

The first of those was the critically acclaimed Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior that was introduced in 2019 with upgraded suspension, larger wheels and tyres, tougher underbody protection and unique exterior and interior highlights.

Following its sell-out success, it has recently begun manufacturing its successor, the Nissan Navara Pro4X Warrior by Premcar.

By Neil Dowling