The History of UK-NSI

The Evolution of UK-NSI

At UK-NSI, our journey began with a vision to bring cutting-edge vehicle instrumentation technology to the UK market. Since our founding, we have grown from a small office in Oxford to become the UK manufacturing hub for Nippon Seiki, a world leader in the design and production of advanced driver information displays.

Where It All Began

UK-NSI was first established in 1986 with the opening of our Oxford office, laying the foundation for our long-standing presence in the UK automotive industry. As demand for high-quality, locally manufactured vehicle instrumentation systems grew, we opened a purpose built factory in Redditch, Worcestershire, in 1988. The new site was officially inaugurated by Mr. A. Nagai, President of Nippon Seiki, marking a major milestone in our company’s history.

Production began in 1988 with instrument clusters for the Rover Group, Metro, Maestro and Montego model vehicles along with Land Rover and Honda Group, delivering instrument clusters for iconic vehicles such as the Discovery Tempest, Defender L316, and Freelander L359 and Honda Civic.

Growth Through Innovation

To support our rapid growth and expanding customer base, the Redditch factory underwent its first major expansion in August 1991. This allowed us to meet increasing demand following the addition of new customers including BMW Motorcycles, the Fiat Punto, and the Audi 80.

Innovation has always been at the heart of our development. In 1992, we launched our Screen Print department, enabling the in-house production of face dials. This was followed by the establishment of our dedicated PCB department in September 1998, further strengthening our manufacturing capabilities.

Raising the Bar for Automotive Quality

In 2010, we took a significant step forward in our commitment to quality and precision. To meet the strict requirements of our automotive customers, both the PCB and Manufacturing departments were upgraded into state-of-the-art cleanrooms, equipped with full humidification systems. These enhancements ensured that we could continue delivering high performance, contamination free products and maintain our position as a leading automotive manufacturer in the UK.

That same dedication to excellence was recognised in 2011, when UK-NSI was proudly awarded Company of the Year for most improved performance within the Nippon Seiki Group.

Pioneering Head-Up Display Systems

In 2017, UK-NSI began a strategic transition from traditional instrument clusters to the production of Head-Up Displays (HUDs), a key component in next generation driver information systems. This move positioned UK-NSI at the forefront of emerging vehicle technology, beginning with the manufacture of BMW HUD G2X and Mercedes HUD 167 platforms.

Today, our expertise in HUD and display technology supports the increasing complexity of modern vehicles and plays a vital role in enhancing driver safety, situational awareness and enjoyment.