The UK’s specialist and low-volume vehicle industry has surged in value by 52% in five years – but experts warn a bad Brexit deal could put the brakes on progress.
Output of Britain’s low-volume car makers, which collectively employ 11,250 people, has grown by 25% since 2012, increasing the sector’s contribution to the economy to £3.2 billion.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) show that a continuation of this could see annual production reach 52,000 vehicles in 2020, a growth of 60% on today.
But SMMT CEO Mike Hawes has highlighted the sensitivity of Britain’s low-volume sector during Brexit negotiations, stating that a good deal for trade will be vital to prevent one of Britain’s greatest industries from being held back.
“Our specialist car manufacturing sector is one of the UK’s global success stories – making world-leading products and pioneering next-generation technologies that benefit everyone,” he said.
“For this to continue, we need certainty on Britain’s future trading relationships, including customs plans, market access, regulations governing the design, production and approval of vehicles, and rules around movement of skilled workers.”
Britain’s low-volume car manufacturers – comprising supercar makers such asMcLaren, luxury companies such asRolls-Royce, the recently relaunched TVR and sports car brands includingLotus – have pushed the sector’s exports to represent 65% of sales. Meanwhile, 30% of components used in the sector’s cars are sourced from the European Union.
“This event isn’t just about telling the world about the importance of our sector, it’s about doing what we can to educate the politicians about what we’ll need in the future," John Chasey, operations director at TVR said. "We want the car we create to be compliant in as many regions as possible, but if some of the derogations that provide the structure are lost in the Great Repeal Bill, it’ll get a lot more difficult."
Simon Wood, chief technical expert at Lotus Cars added “I don’t have any fear for our industry from the effects of hybridisation or electrification at all. The bigger threat could be autonomous driving, and how the legislation that promotes it is framed. If road systems were only configured for autonomous that’d be pretty bad."
Hawes, whose organisation represents the UK car industry, has called on the Government to set out the best regulations to ensure trade barriers and tariffs aren’t introduced.
“This will provide the assurance the sector needs to remain competitive and make investment decisions that enable it to continue to develop innovative, exciting and desirable products that are the envy of the world,” Hawes explained.
McLaren has cemented itself as one of the UK’s low-volume car sector success stories. The brand celebrated a record-breaking 2016 when sales reached 3286 units. The Woking car maker made £9.2 million, a rise of 70% on the previous year.
The brand's vehicle line director, Andy Palmer, believes the road ahead also represents opportunity. He said “These challenges we face are something we haven’t seen before. The challenge to provide something very different for the future is huge. That makes our industry an amazingly exciting place to be. Bring it on!"
In addition, the industry has just seen the rebirth of TVR, which is building a production facility in Wales and plans to launch the Griffith sports car. Aston Martin is also rapidly increasing its assets with a new Welsh plant and is producing a 1000bhp hypercar called the Valkyrie as a new halo model.
Additional reporting by Steve Cropley
More content:
Car servicing costs to rise by 10% if no Brexit deal is made
Lotus CEO: sports car production stays in Norfolk
from auto feed http://ift.tt/2xLe4T2
Post a Comment
Post a Comment