Directed Technologies officially opened its $15m Connected Mobility Innovation Centre this week, set to fuel the rapid growth of connected vehicle technology and IoT solutions that save lives, reduce emissions, and enhance productivity.
Opening the event with a large crowd of customers and CEOs from their business partners, Brent Stafford, Executive Director of Directed Technologies, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm and pride of being part of an Australian business competing on the world stage with technology, innovation and local manufacturing.
“I’m very proud to work in an Australian business, which is transforming other businesses, world class businesses, through digital innovation, with a focus on connected vehicle technology with car and truck manufacturers, emergency service providers, last mile delivery operators and fleets, and the world’s leading fleet companies,” said Stafford.
“The reinvigoration of the automotive industry in Victoria is accelerating with data-driven solutions along with innovations in electric and hydrogen vehicle development and advanced materials manufacturing. The opportunities in connectivity, data analytics and machine learning are right here on our doorstep and will help to diversify the economy but will also solidify Victoria’s position as the centre of automotive manufacturing in Australia,” explained Stafford.
The origin story for Directed Group goes back to 1991 when Steve Siolis, Group CEO and Founder, started the an electronics business in 1991 and the group has since grown with distinct stages of evolution and the opening of the Connected Mobility Innovation Centre marks the fourth stage.
Silos acknowledged the audience and thanked the local, national and international guests in attendance with some being partnered with Direct Group for 18 over years.
“I’m a great believer of the potential for Australian business and business in Victoria,” said Siolis. “You don’t need to look to Silicon Valley or Europe for cutting edge automotive technology. The idea that we don’t make great technology products in Australia is simply not true. We’ve built a world class facility here, and this innovation centre represents a realisation of that potential.”
“Focusing on customer centric innovation, technology, team and culture. We have built a world class team allowing us to compete and win against the best.”
“Business growth is hard at times with challenges around every corner. In our sector, we also compete against global majors, many of whom do not pay tax in Australia, let alone invest here. This tests your courage and tenacity every day. However, we have not only competed but we have won. We have not only invested but expanded internationally.”
“This centre represents our launch pad to our next growth phase. At the time of planning this facility we predicted aggressive growth in employment here from 100 people to grow to 200 people by the start of 2025. I’m pleased to announce that we reached that milestone two years ahead of schedule three weeks ago; and we now have a talented team of over 220 people.”
The Centre will advance Australia’s capabilities in next generation fleet vehicle digitisation and electrification, while providing a foundation for Directed Technologies to scale its APAC class-leading solutions to global markets.
A Victorian-owned and operated company, Directed Technologies is known for its cutting-edge factory-fit connected solutions for a variety of fleet and passenger vehicles including trucks, trailers, cars, motorbikes, and electric delivery vehicles.
The Connected Mobility Innovation Centre currently manages 200 terabytes of data, processing 20 billion probe data points a day, including live video feeds, vehicle and driver behaviour alerts and efficiency measures and vehicle fault codes. It provides customers with a live view and advanced analytical insights of their people, vehicles, and assets across the global road network to support fleet optimisation and driver assistance programs that reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions through fuel savings and, most importantly, save lives.
The new Connected Mobility Innovation Centre will double Directed Technologies’ local manufacturing capabilities in both telematics and IoT, allowing it to meet an ever-increasing demand for its high-tech products.
The company’s telematics devices, manufactured locally, are already used in over 2,500 vehicle fleets globally, including Australia Post and Ambulance Victoria, as well as leading truck brands like HINO, Mercedes-Benz, Kenworth, DAF, and IVECO. Directed Technologies has also been selected by renowned brands like Ford to export locally designed hardware solutions to the global passenger vehicle market.
The company has seen rapid growth in Australia and New Zealand, with the homegrown technology now exported throughout 15 APAC countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Guam, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Backed in part by the Victorian Jobs and Investment Fund, the $15m dollar state-of-the-art centre will place Victoria at the centre of global connected vehicle opportunities, driving the growth of digital skills and manufacturing capability by providing hundreds of jobs for high-skilled workers across design, production, engineering and manufacturing.
