To ensure consistency in the quality of vehicles built around the world, Helixx plans to use a software framework it is co-developing with technology giant Siemens. It has a ‘digital twin’ – a virtual model of the vehicle – that uses cameras, sensors and special processes on the factory floor to ensure every step is completed perfectly.
“We can do it all here with UK work control,” Beck explained. “If we have a network of factories, if there’s an error, we can see what’s going on as if they were in the next room. The door.”
There is no need to give detailed training to factory workers on how to manufacture Helix vanes, they simply “follow a set of procedures and click a red thumbs down button or a green thumbs up button, from which the process continues”.
By leasing its vehicles to fleets through a subscription model, Helix can fully control what happens to a vehicle at the end of its useful life.
Beck said: “There’s a lot of talk about circularity and ‘end of life’ and ‘second life’ in a lot of products, Not just the vehicle. But the fundamental problem with that is that if you sell it to someone, it’s not your problem and you expect the consumer to be responsible. [recycle].