Two UK societies of automotive engineers have united to form a new body known as the Strategic Automotive Alliance.

The two are the Institute of Vehicle Engineers (IVehE) and the British section of the US-based Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-UK). For the former the alliance is aimed at providing it a global reach and for the latter, its members should benefit from a new network of regional centre activities.

The alliance will be managed by a steering committee of eight, four members each from the two societies, and will be based at teh IVehE's offices in Solihull. Its conference this year will be held as a Strategic Automotive Alliance event.

Joint membership of both societies can be obtained at no extra cost as can access to their publications, standard making activities and techinical meetings in the UK.

The individual membership fee for the alliance is £50 per annum and for corporate members £250-600 per annum.

James Walker, IVehE executive director, said: "I'm confident not only that we will increase membership in both organisations through having formed the alliance but also that we can improve the range and nature of activities for members."