Tucked in between the picturesque hills of North Canterbury, Rodin Cars is a world-class powerhouse of automotive innovation. The company, founded by David Dicker, epitomises a relentless commitment to pushing boundaries and creating vehicles that redefine speed and performance. Surrounded by manicured green grass and rolling hills, the 550-hectare property is a hub of high-octane technology.
David Dicker: A Visionary Entrepreneur
David Dicker’s journey to becoming one of the most innovative minds in the automotive world began in Sydney, Australia. Growing up, he raced boats with his father, an experience that fuelled his imagination and ignited his passion for racing and mechanics. By the time he was 20, he was taking apart and rebuilding kit cars for fun, a pursuit that foreshadowed his later ventures. His entry into the tech industry came when he stumbled across microcomputers in the 1970s. While working with his father as a roof installer, he developed software to optimise the design of roof trusses—a leap that led him to launch Dicker Data, one of Australia’s top-performing IT companies, which remains a multi-billion-dollar enterprise today.
Despite his success in tech, David never let go of his love for motorsport and cars. A lifelong enthusiast, he admired New Zealand’s culture of classic cars, where a Sunday drive is still a cherished pastime. In 2005, he set his sights on New Zealand, captivated by the country’s less authoritarian culture, stunning landscapes, and opportunities for innovation. By 2016, with the resources finally in place, David fully committed to his most ambitious project yet: Rodin Cars.
David Dicker, Founder & Owner of Rodin Cars
A Perfect Location for Perfection
The Rodin Cars headquarters is no accident of geography. David specifically chose the remote site for its peaceful isolation—it’s far enough from neighbours to accommodate the thunderous roar of track cars and offers a smooth tar-sealed road right to the gate, a rarity in rural areas still dominated by gravel roads. The location’s natural beauty is an added bonus, providing an inspiring backdrop to the cutting-edge engineering happening on-site.
The Dream of the FZERO
David’s vision for Rodin Cars has always been clear: to build a car faster than a Formula 1 vehicle. This ambition gave rise to the Rodin FZERO, a car designed without constraints. Weighing just 698 kilograms and powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo hybrid V10 engine, the FZERO has already demonstrated its capability to lap seven seconds faster than a Formula 1 car in simulations. For David, physics—not racing regulations—sets the limits for what Rodin Cars can achieve.
The FZERO
Attracting World-Class Talent
For a cutting-edge venture like Rodin Cars, assembling a team of world-class engineers and designers is critical. While the rural location of North Canterbury might seem like a challenge, David has turned it into an advantage. The sheer excitement of working on a project as groundbreaking as the FZERO has drawn talent from across the globe.
“Well, obviously, being based in Christchurch or a larger city would make it easier to recruit people,” David admits. “But the thing is, our project is so interesting that it does compensate for that to some extent.”
Rodin Cars’ reputation as a leader in automotive innovation has helped attract top-tier professionals who want to work on a project that redefines what is possible in the industry. The team’s work environment, which combines cutting-edge technology with the natural beauty of North Canterbury, offers a rare combination that appeals to forward-thinking individuals.
From 3D titanium printing to in-house fabrication and even self-managed vehicle certifications, the team at Rodin Cars operates with a level of skill and autonomy that rivals the best in the world. “It’s a place where you can truly focus on innovation,” says David, underscoring the draw for engineers who thrive on challenges and creativity.
Innovation at work.
Words of Wisdom
For aspiring entrepreneurs, David’s advice is as straightforward as it is profound: “If you want to be successful in pretty much anything, you need a commitment bordering on obsession. And the other thing that you need is, if you can find something that you actually enjoy, then you’re not even going to feel like you’re working.”
Rodin Team
A Vision for the Future
Rodin Cars is not just about breaking speed records; it’s about reshaping the way people think about engineering and performance. David’s ultimate goal is to see the FZERO outperform the world’s fastest Formula 1 cars on the track—a dream well within reach, thanks to the company’s meticulous simulations and innovative designs.
But for David, success is also about enjoying the journey. From his first passion car, an E38 Charger, to the high-tech marvels of today, David’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the possible.
Rodin Cars is more than an automotive business—it’s a bold statement of what can be achieved in North Canterbury. This small but mighty team is rewriting the rules of performance, putting New Zealand firmly on the map as a global leader in automotive engineering.
Rodin Cars is located at 1201 Inland Road, Mount Lyford Village. For more information visit www.rodin-cars.com
