Melbourne-based automotive engineering and manufacturing company Premcar turns 30 today, marking three decades of developing and building vehicles for major global carmakers.

The company started life as Tickford on 11 September 1996, producing special-edition cars for Ford in Australia, including performance-enhanced versions of the AU Falcon and re-engineered, right-hand-drive-converted Ford Mustangs.

The company later became Prodrive Automotive Technologies after Prodrive acquired Tickford overseas. It subsequently established Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) in a joint venture with Ford Australia, creating a range of high-performance models.

In 2012, the company became Premcar following a management buyout. Owners Bernie Quinn and Jim Jovanovski have since grown the Australian company into an engineering and secondary vehicle manufacturing specialist working with major carmakers from Japan, the USA, China and Europe.

Three silver pickup trucks parked on a grassy hillside with large rock outcroppings and distant rolling hills under a blue sky.
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“Today marks 30 years of Australian know-how delivering world-class cars,” said Bernie Quinn, CEO of Premcar. “Since 1996, this Australian operation has been the go-to for carmakers looking to create exciting new cars for passionate customers. After 30 years, Premcar is busier than ever – and we have big future plans.”

Premcar’s body of work comprises more than 200,000 new vehicles and more than 55,000 performance engines since it began local operations under the Tickford name in 1996. Its more recent work has included Nissan’s Warrior range and, most recently, the Mitsubishi Triton Raider.

That work is continuing with Chery, which has engaged Premcar to locally test and validate its first ute, the Stockman, ahead of its Australian launch. Premcar will tune the Stockman’s suspension and driver-assistance systems for Australian conditions.

The company opened its manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence in Epping in 2019, followed by a second engineering and manufacturing facility in Epping in 2023. Premcar built its 10,000th Warrior in 2024.

White Mitsubishi pickup parked on muddy off-road with muddy tires and splashes, in a rural hills landscape under a cloudy sky
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Premcar’s key milestones include:

  • 2014: FPV GTF launched with Premcar powertrain engineering
  • 2015: Helicopter development program for a major Japanese OEM
  • 2016: Ford Sprint XR8 and XR6T launched, showcasing Premcar’s powertrain engineering
  • 2018: High-performance Premcar Holy Grail package released for final-build Ford Falcons
  • 2018: First engagement with Nissan to develop the Navara Warrior
  • 2019: Premcar manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence opened in Epping
  • 2019: Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior by Premcar launched
  • 2020: Premcar co-developed an EV platform for a large Chinese OEM
  • 2021: Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior by Premcar launched
  • 2022: Nissan Navara SL Warrior by Premcar launched
  • 2023: Premcar launched a Bronco restomod at Monterey Car Week
  • 2023: Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar launched
  • 2023: Premcar opened its second engineering and manufacturing facility in Epping
  • 2024: Premcar built its 10,000th Warrior
  • 2025: Premcar won the SAE-A Australia Leader in Innovation – Overall Award
  • 2026: Mitsubishi Triton Raider launched
MORE Premcar to tune Chery Stockman for Australian conditions