Automotive
The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy accounting for more than £82 billion turnover and £20.2 billion value added.
With some 186,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and in excess of 856,000 across the wider automotive industry, it accounts for 12.0% of total UK export of goods and invests £3.65 billion each year in automotive R&D.
More than 30 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by 2,500 component providers and some of the world’s most skilled engineers.
A strong UK supply base is fundamental to the future success of the wider automotive industry. The UK is home to over 30 automotive manufacturers, producing cars, vans, trucks, buses and engines – who want to take advantage of increased local sourcing.
18 of the world’s top 20 automotive suppliers operate in the UK and SMMT is committed to driving growth in the supply chain.
UK Automotive Supply Chain
- 78,000 people employed in the UK supply chain
- 41% average UK content in British-built cars – up from 36% since 2011
- 2,500 + automotive suppliers in the UK
- £4.3bn added value generated by UK automotive industry
Data source: SMMT
Automotive News
Rigid Borescopes for those difficult to see inspection tasks when the entry path is straight.
Rigid borescopes are used in industrial settings where access to confined or hard-to-reach areas is critical for visual inspection. They provide high-quality imaging and are highly robust and durable, making them ideal for industrial inspection tasks. Hawkeye rigid borescopes, available from Optimax are known for their high-quality imaging and exceptional durability. They are used in…
Automotive News – Early August 2024
Two straight years of growth for new car market. UK new car market rises 2.5% in July to deliver 24 consecutive months of growth. Battery electric vehicle uptake outpaces overall market, up 18.8%, but remains behind mandated transition trajectory. New outlook reduces expectations to 1.968m units for 2024, with BEVs anticipated to comprise 18.5% of…
Automotive News – Late July 2024
Car production down in first half as manufacturers invest in electric future. UK car production dips -7.6% in first half of 2024 as manufacturers continue switch to electric models. Electrified vehicle production YTD also down -7.6% to 157,224 units, representing 37.8% of total output. Latest independent production outlook anticipates UK producing some 910,000 cars and…
Automotive News – Early July 2024
Auto makers can drive UK’s green growth agenda with carbon emissions halved. 25th automotive Sustainability Report shows UK vehicle manufacturers surpass major milestone with CO2 emissions per vehicle produced halved since 1999. More vehicles made but less energy used in 2023 with an -18% decline in CO2 emissions from factory production. Enhancing UK’s competitiveness could…
Automotive News – Late June 2024
Commercial vehicle production falls in May. UK commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing declines -59.3% to 4,400 units in May. Output for domestic and export markets falls -52.2% and -61.9% respectively, but exports remain up in the year to date. Overall year to date volumes dip by -3.2% to 45,439 units, a fall equivalent to 1,492 units…
AIM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS WITH PSL DATATRACK
In 2024, Automatic Industrial Machines Ltd (AIM) celebrates a significant milestone – 25 years of partnership with PSL Datatrack, a UK-based provider of production control software for subcontract precision engineers. This enduring collaboration has transformed AIM’s operations, propelling the company towards excellence in the aerospace industry and beyond. Before embracing PSL Datatrack, AIM navigated its…
Automotive News – Early June 2024
Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that English bus operator Reading Buses has confirmed new orders for 24 zero-emission and 29 low-emission buses. The 24 next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double decker’s will be the operator’s first batch of electric buses. They are…
Bowers Group’s XT Thread Gauges Help UWR in Custom Race Car Solution
Bowers Group’s precision measurement expertise played a crucial role in supporting the University of Wolverhampton Racing Team (UWR) with the manufacture of an adaptor plate. Used by OEM manufacturers such as Morgan, MINI, and Toyota, adaptor plates convert the standard oil heat exchanger on the BMW B48 variant engine into an external oil cooler system.…
Automotive News – Late May 2024
New van market records best April for three years but electric transition needs boost. • New light commercial vehicle market up 5.4% in April, marking 16th consecutive month of growth. • Battery electric van demand falls by -42.4%, with urgent need to ramp up van changepoint rollout. • Latest SMMT outlook expects UK new van…
Automotive News – Early May 2024
New van market records best April for three years but electric transition needs boost. New light commercial vehicle market up 5.4% in April, marking 16th consecutive month of growth. Battery electric van demand falls by -42.4%, with urgent need to ramp up van changepoint rollout. Latest SMMT outlook expects UK new van registrations to grow…
Spray Painting Fascias for Classic Cars
Introducing HVAC control fascias for Classic Retrofit. Classic Retrofit was established when company founder, Jonny Hart, swapped his daily driver Mercedes 280 SLC for a classic Porsche 911 SC in need of restoration. At that time Jonny was the MD of an electronics design consultancy within the defence and medical industries, and was looking for…
Automotive News – Late April 2024
Industry calls for ‘next generation’ incentive and infrastructure plan to decarbonise Britain’s truck fleet. Zero emission HGV use trebles in a year – but accounts for just 0.05% of HGVs on the road with end of sale in 2035. Massive manufacturer investment means operators can choose from 27 different zero emission trucks – but slow…
Automotive News – Early April 2024
Full year sales numbers for luxury car maker, Jaguar Land Rover, rose by 20% year-on-year, the group has revealed. It said the improvement reflects improved production and sustained global demand. The group, which has production plants at Halewood in Merseyside and Solihull and Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands, said wholesale volumes of 110,190 units…
Automotive News – Late March 2024
Six consecutive months of growth for UK car production. • UK car production rises 14.6% in best February performance since 2021. • Manufacturing for domestic market surges, up 58.0%, while exports rise 4.6%. • Electrified vehicles represent more than a third of output with 29,038 made in the month. UK car production rose again in…
Tinius Olsen Helps Drive Automotive Sustainability Through Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
The race to meet net zero is hotting up as the development of alternatives to battery power start to come online. Tinius Olsen is currently supporting one of them alongside the UK’s leading developer of hydrogen fuel cell technology, Intelligent Energy. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced that ‘a new electric vehicle is being…
Automotive News – Late February 2024
Luxury car maker Aston Martin will recruit about 400 technicians to help produce its “next generation” of sports cars. The staff, to be based at Gaydon, Warwickshire, and St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, will support production of the DBX707 luxury SUV. The firm said demand for the SUV and the introduction of other models led…
Automotive News – Early February 2024
The UK registered its one millionth electric car last month, despite a big drop in sales, new figures suggest. New EV registrations by private buyers fell by a quarter in January, threatening to undermine the UK’s net zero promises. Overall new car sales to private customers fell by 16% in the same period, the Society…
Automotive News – Late January 2024
The UK Government will back a new Tees Valley hydrogen refuelling station for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) with £7m and has also set aside £300,000 to support local colleges in offering hydrogen skills training. The UK Government set out a vision for the Tees Valley to become the nation’s first hydrogen transport hub in 2020. …
Automotive News – Late January 2024
The UK Government will back a new Tees Valley hydrogen refuelling station for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) with £7m and has also set aside £300,000 to support local colleges in offering hydrogen skills training. The UK Government set out a vision for the Tees Valley to become the nation’s first hydrogen transport hub in 2020. …
Automotive News – Early January 2024
The UK and EU have agreed to extend trade rules on electric vehicles until the end of 2026 to keep costs down for manufacturers and consumers, the Prime Minister has announced today (Thursday 21 December). To access zero tariffs under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), businesses must prove their products include a minimum level…
Automotive News – December 2023
The University of Warwick has been awarded millions of pounds to boost British production of crucial materials for EV battery production. The £12m in funding has been awarded by the Faraday Battery Challenge to the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and CPI at NETPark (North East Technology Park), in County Durham.…
Automotive News – Late November 2023
A West Yorkshire company which manufactures minibuses has applied to appoint administrators. Treka Bus, based in Brighouse, is a trading division of Bolton-based vehicle technology business WNV Tech. In its annual report for the year ended 31 December 2022, Treka Bus reported a turnover of £11.7m (2021: £23.8m) and pre-tax profits of £717,722 (2021: £2.2m).…
Automotive News Early November 2023
October new car market beats pre-pandemic levels, but subdued EV growth hinders green goals. October delivers 153,529 new car registrations, up 14.3% year-on-year and 7.2% above 2019. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake records 42nd consecutive month of growth but struggles to increase market share, while charge point rollout improves in efforts to get ahead of…
Automotive News Late October 2023
Electric vehicle and systems manufacturer RBW has opened its UK factory in Lichfield, following multi-million-pound investment from California. Since its foundation seven years ago, RBW continues to pioneer the safe electrification of vehicles. The investment will enable the company to scale-up to meet global demand. Meson Capital Partners’ £10m investment follows an original £5m and…
Automotive News Late October 2023
Electric vehicle and systems manufacturer RBW has opened its UK factory in Lichfield, following multi-million-pound investment from California. Since its foundation seven years ago, RBW continues to pioneer the safe electrification of vehicles. The investment will enable the company to scale-up to meet global demand. Meson Capital Partners’ £10m investment follows an original £5m and…
Automotive News – Late July 2023
Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata has confirmed plans to build its flagship electric car battery factory in the UK. The new plant in Somerset is expected to create 4,000 UK jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain. Tata said it will invest £4bn in the site but it is understood that the government is…
Automotive News – Early July 2023
Sales of Jaguar Land Rover models have risen during the luxury car maker’s first quarter period, ending June 30, 2023, due to the continuing improvement in microchip and other supply constraints. Wholesale volumes for the first quarter were 93,253 units, excluding the Chery Jaguar Land Rover China joint venture, up 30% compared with the same…
Automotive News – Late June 2023
The Nissan team at its Sunderland plant are celebrating building the 11 millionth vehicle since production started in 1986. The milestone means that, on average, a new car has rolled off the line at the plant every two minutes, every hour of every day, for 37 years. The 11 millionth car was a Blade Silver…
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