• New Cars
    • First Impressions
    • Road Tests
  • Classics
    • Classic Profiles
    • Classic Driving Impressions
    • Classics Information
    • Events and Days Out
  • Motoring For Fun
  • News & Views
  • Bookshelf
  • Technical
    • Grumpy Old Mechanic
    • Kim’s Tips
  • Features
    • Visits
    • Track Days
  • Contributors
    • About our contributors
    • Kim Henson
    • Chris Adamson
    • Kieron Fennelly
    • Ant Henson
    • Rachel Henson
    • David Miles
    • Gerald Morgan
    • Dave Moss
    • Dave Randle
    • Robin Roberts
    • Tom Scanlan
    • Glen Smale
    • Jeremy Walton
    • Keith Ward
    • John Price Williams
  • More…
    • About Wheels Alive
    • Tips for using this website
    • Useful Links

Wheels Alive

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Riversimple Rasa hydrogen/electric powered vehicles to be produced in Wales…

Author/Source: Robin Roberts

10th February 2021

Hydrogen powered vehicles to be built in Wales… Robin Roberts reports.

One of the world’s leading technology companies has stepped in to boost plans to build hydrogen vehicles in Wales for global sale.
Siemens UK has signed a memorandum of understanding with Riversimple, of Llandrindod Wells to make their Rasa car and a local delivery van.

The car is already being prepared for trials with 12 drivers living in Abergavenny and the Welsh company installed a hydrogen filling station for them to use free of charge.
Riversimple is in the process of raising £150M over the next three years to go into mass production with the car appearing in two years and the van about 12 months later.

In a press release today (10th February 2021), both companies said it was their intention to use the MOU to progress Riversimple’s sustainability initiatives and ensure local component sourcing, local job creation and training as well as putting the operation on a firm financial footing.

Production will eventually utilise two sites and create up to 220 jobs in each, probably in the Mid-Wales area and aiming for 5,000 vehicles annually from each.

Hugo Spowers, MD of Riversimple, said, “Siemens is involved in green energy generation and has a history of enabling technology companies like ours.

They share our passion for sustainability, hydrogen and the circular economy and have deep expertise in technology software and plant simulation as well as financing the tech sector.We are very much looking forward to building this relationship.”

Co-director Fiona Spowers said it was a major vote of confidence for Riversimple to have a major international company with such experience as Siemens to join in the development.

She said it is intended to source as many components as possible for the vehicles in Wales and talks are underway to bring the electric motor manufacturers and composite chassis fabricators to Wales and support the venture, to cut down on costs and maintain continuity of supply.

Fiona Spowers with the Riversimple Rasa.

Brian Holliday, MD Siemens Digital Industries GB & Ireland, added, “We are delighted to be working with Riversimple, a UK company, which has designed and built a revolutionary electric car that runs on hydrogen.

We support firms that produce boundary-breaking products in terms of design, manufacturing and performance.

It is particularly satisfying when we get to support a programme with sustainability at its heart that can make a difference to the health of our planet.”

Riversimple has also announced the appointment of Gambit Corporate Finance LLP and an investment round that aims to raise £150 million over the next three years, to fund two manufacturing plants.

Currently, Riversimple is building a low volume production run of Rasas for a trial with the general public based in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire supported by OZEV as part of the HTP programme and once Coronavirus restrictions are lifted the proving can develop.

 

 

Save Post as PDF

Categories: News & Views Tags: Hydrogen

Tip: For improved search accuracy, enclose search terms for multiple words in quotation marks. For example:
"Land Rover".

Advertise with us

Recent Posts

Lakeland Motor Museum kicks off the start of The Club Triumph Coast 2 Coast Run

The Motor Ombudsman marks nearly one million contacts as ADR Regulations reach a decade of service

INEOS Grenadier ups its game with portal axle collaboration

New Chief Executive Officer for The British Motor Museum

Legacy of Austin pedal cars honoured with Blue Plaque at original factory site in Bargoed

Kia EV3 GT Line S – Road Test

National Motor Museum to take Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird to Wales for the World Land Speed Record centenary

SMMT figures show higher car sales levels in June 2025

Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


Read about our contributors  ››

Tags

crossover Suzuki estate luxury SUV City car plug-in hybrid PHEV Coupé Seven seater SUV Compact SUV five door hatchback Tyres all-electric EV large SUV British Motor Museum Estate car National Motor Museum saloon 4x4 The Motor Ombudsman Kia Hybrid SUV MPV First Impressions road test Electric Beaulieu hatchback

All Tags ››

Like us on Facebook

Like us on Facebook

Wheels Alive Social

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Please share our website

Contact us

We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please click here to contact us.

Advertising Opportunities

Please contact us if you would like to discuss advertising opportunities on Wheels Alive.

Copyright © 2025 Kim Henson, Wheels Alive