Formula SAE Italy 2018, interviews from the Riccardo Paletti circuit in Varano de' Melegari: Paolo Coeli, Product planning FCA. #MobilityRevolution
Over fifteen years of Italian history, Formula SAE has changed enormously. This is confirmed by Paolo Coeli, Product planning methods and configuration management at FCA, one of the first people to believe in this formula and to help it grow over the years. "We started with just 8 cars at Balocco 15 years ago — we almost felt like a secret society," Coeli tells us. Today he has not only returned to Formula SAE as a Design judge, but in his role as director of Operations he occupies a pivotal position in the event dedicated to young engineers.
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Today, here in Varano, there are more than 80 teams from all over the world, with a level of professionalism that has grown considerably, both in the construction of the cars and in the know-how of the teams. In the meantime, electric mobility has arrived, and above all, autonomous driving has made its debut for the very first time. "We were the first in Italy to introduce electric vehicles, which are now part of the official regulations," explains Coeli. "It was only natural to add driverless cars to Formula SAE as well, as an integral part of the future development of the car. There is no doubt whatsoever that the students who have been able to gain hands-on experience here of building an autonomous vehicle can represent valuable assets for us in the very near future," Coeli concludes.
This year too, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the main sponsor of Formula SAE Italy under the Abarth brand. Following the signing — last November — of a memorandum with Eni for the joint development of research projects and technological applications to reduce CO2 emissions in transport, and following recent announcements on the progressive electrification of the brand, last May FCA announced the expansion of its collaboration in the United States with Waymo (one of the leading providers of autonomous driving technology, and also the only company to have a fleet of driverless vehicles on public roads) through an agreement providing for the supply of thousands of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to be integrated into Waymo's autonomous vehicle fleet. "FCA is committed to making autonomous driving technologies available to its customers in a safe, efficient and realistic way," said Sergio Marchionne. "Strategic collaborations such as the one with Waymo will help foster the development of innovative technologies."
For Formula SAE Italy 2018, LifeGate is on location at the Riccardo Paletti circuit in Varano de' Melegari, in the province of Parma. Students from 79 universities in 26 countries around the world take to the track in the cars they have personally designed and assembled after months of hard work. Within their own team, they have the opportunity to showcase their talent, design skills and entrepreneurial spirit. There is no shortage of electric prototypes and autonomous driving ones — examples of the mobility of the future.