University of Auckland Formula SAE Team

What University of Auckland Formula SAE Team does

The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team (legally The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team Inc., operating under the trade names FSAE47 and F:SAE:47) is a student-run engineering competition team affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Auckland. Founded around 2003–2005 and headquartered at 314 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland, it is New Zealand's oldest Formula SAE team and the first New Zealand team to win the overall electric vehicle category at the Formula Australasia Competition. The team's core product is a portfolio of formula-style race cars — currently the M021, M022, and MO23 — designed and manufactured by approximately 51-100 student members, featuring carbon fibre monocoque chassis, custom aerodynamic packages, and (most recently) a high-performance electric vehicle powertrain.

Technically, the team operates as a hands-on engineering programme spanning composite manufacturing (prepreg carbon fibre from Southern Spars processed via autoclave curing at Innovate Composites and Advanced Aerospace), precision CNC plug and mould production (Jackson Industries, EG Whiter), CAD/CAM design using Autodesk Inventor and Vault PDM (CADPro Systems), and vehicle dynamics engineering. Cars compete annually at the Formula SAE-A event held at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria, Australia, across static and dynamic events including engineering design, cost, business case, acceleration, skidpad, autocross, and endurance. In 2025, the MO23 placed 1st in Engineering Design, 1st in Acceleration, 2nd in Skidpad, and 2nd in Endurance.

The team is structured as an incorporated society rather than a commercial entity and generates no product revenue. Its operating model is sponsorship- and endowment-funded, with in-kind and financial contributions from a concentrated set of corporate partners. Flagship backers include the Murray Family (endowed undergraduate and PhD engineering scholarships), Rocket Lab (since 2025), Giltrap Group (since 2016), and Southern Spars (since 2011), supplemented by technology partners such as Advanced Aerospace, Jackson Industries, Innovate Composites, CADPro Systems, and EG Whiter. The Murray family endowment is particularly significant: established after Ian Murray's death in 2016, it underwrites annual scholarship support and remains a durable funding anchor, with the family continuing to attend Formula SAE events.

Name

University of Auckland Formula SAE Team

Legal name

The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team Inc.

Website

https://fsae.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team is a student-run engineering society that designs, builds, and races Formula SAE competition cars, including electric powertrains. Funded by corporate sponsorships and the Murray Family endowment, it serves University of Auckland engineering students through hands-on composite manufacturing and vehicle dynamics experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Formula SAE Race Cars

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Teams (F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Rally, MotoGP, etc.) (MPAKABAB)

Keywords

• Student formula racing
• Formula SAE competition
• Carbon fibre monocoque chassis
• Electric race car powertrain
• Composite race car engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team designs, engineers, manufactures and races formula-style student race cars (M021, M022, M023) for the annual Formula SAE Australasia competition. The team's core deliverable is the construction of a competitive vehicle each year using carbon fibre monocoque construction, custom aerodynamic packages and high-performance electric powertrains, providing engineering students with hands-on experience in design, manufacturing, and vehicle dynamics.

Product overview

The University of Auckland Formula SAE Team develops and competes with a portfolio of formula-style electric and internal combustion race cars (M021, M022, M023) for the annual Formula SAE competition. The team is New Zealand's oldest FSAE team and the first to bring the overall EV win home. Their product offering consists of designing and constructing competition vehicles that test students' skills in design, management, manufacturing, communication, research and business operations. The cars feature carbon fibre monocoque chassis, aerodynamic packages, and undergo static and dynamic events including skidpad, acceleration, autocross, endurance, cost, efficiency, and business case presentations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M023 Race Car The latest Formula SAE competition race car developed by the University of Auckland FSAE team, featuring an advanced carbon fibre monocoque chassis and aerodynamic package. Built for student engineering education and competition in Formula SAE Australasia.
• M022 Race Car Previous generation Formula SAE race car built by the University of Auckland FSAE team, continuing the team's tradition of carbon fibre composite construction and applied vehicle dynamics engineering.
• M021 Race Car Earlier generation Formula SAE race car in the team's vehicle lineup, representing the team's accumulated engineering expertise in composite manufacturing and vehicle dynamics.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Rocket LabflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor since 2025, providing critical materials including chop strand, chassis foam, and spiral tube essential for crafting the high-performance EV. Financial contributions help cover vital team costs. Many team members have gained invaluable experience through internships at Rocket Lab's cutting-edge aerospace facilities.
• Giltrap GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the team since 2016 with financial, event and vehicle support. Hosts the team's Launch Night event each year at their headquarters. In 2020, provided a brand new Holden Colorado loan to transport cars and equipment. Sponsors kiwi motorsport activity nationally and overseas.
• Advanced AerospacecoreTechnology or IntegrationComposite design specialist providing access to cutting-edge facility featuring a high-pressure autoclave with capabilities of 4.4 bar and 120°C for chassis test panels. Provides essential materials for carbon fibre components along with invaluable expertise and guidance.
• Southern SparscoreTechnology or IntegrationDonating high-quality prepreg carbon fibre and composite products since early 2011. Their products form the backbone of the chassis, aerodynamics package and more of the car. Enables engineers to learn manufacture and design skills with industry-grade materials.
• EG WhitercoreTechnology or IntegrationLeader in tool and die industry with over 60 years of experience manufacturing high-precision quality tooling and mould sets. Capable of manufacturing the most complex parts on the vehicle. Trained many current and previous team members in precision manufacturing.
• Jackson IndustriescoreTechnology or IntegrationPrecision composite tooling specialists with some of the largest high accuracy CNC machining facilities in the country. Produce geometrically pristine plugs and moulds that define the shape and form of the monocoque chassis and aerodynamic packages.
• Innovate CompositescoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading force in composites providing state-of-the-art autoclave for curing the chassis. Partnership continued into 2023 with expertise, workshop support and services. Learning from their innovative processing solutions and professional-grade equipment.
• CADPro SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationNew Zealand's leading supplier of professional CAD/CAM technology. Supporting since the M021 design cycle with extensive experience using Autodesk Inventor CAD and Autodesk Vault PDM software. Has exponentially advanced the skills of young engineers with industry-level PDM software exposure.
• Productivity PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partners since 2025, equipping the team with resources and guidance to elevate performance through customised consultations and resources that help implement real changes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TU Munich (TUW Racing): Another top-tier European Formula Student team with strong industry sponsorship and EV development focus. Comparable in competition category, sponsorship model, and engineering rigor.
• University of Michigan Formula SAE: One of the most decorated Formula SAE teams globally, providing a benchmark for what a top-tier university FSAE program achieves. Comparable in operating model (student-run, sponsor-funded) and competition focus, though at significantly larger scale.
• Melbourne University Racing (MUR): University of Melbourne's Formula SAE-A team competing at Winton Motor Raceway. Direct regional competitor with comparable engineering scope and competition objectives.
• Monash Motorsport: Monash University's Formula SAE team that directly competes against the University of Auckland team in the Formula Australasia competition. Both are Australasia-based student teams with similar sponsorship models and carbon fibre composite vehicle programs.
• ETH Zurich Academic Motorsports Club (AMZ): Swiss university Formula Student team known for pioneering electric powertrains and autonomous vehicle technology. Comparable as a leading university team pushing EV innovation in Formula Student competitions globally.
• University of Waikato Formula SAE Team: Another New Zealand-based university FSAE team that competes at Formula Australasia. Direct competitor in the same regional competition series with similar student-run, sponsor-funded operating model.

Others

• Rocket Lab: Aerospace company and the team's flagship 2025 sponsor. Not a direct peer but an ecosystem enabler providing materials and internship pathways that materially shape the team's capabilities.
• Southern Spars: Long-standing sponsor (since 2011) donating prepreg carbon fibre and composite products that form the backbone of the chassis and aerodynamic package. Functions as a critical materials supplier in the team's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UoAfsae
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fsae
• Instagraminstagram.com/uoafsae47/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Auckland Formula SAE Team