This page gives a brief overview of the UK automotive industry, and provides information on the international business development assistance available from UK Trade & Investment and other sources
Industry Introduction
Today the UK has a diverse, vibrant and world-class motor industry, which contributes 3.4% of gross domestic product and supports around 850,000 jobs. Automotive products make up 9% of the country's total export sales, and the industry has attracted major inward investment from the top global vehicle and component manufacturers.
Vehicle Manufacturing
Nine major car manufacturers choose to build vehicles in the UK - more than in any other European country. In total more than 40 VM's have production facilities in the UK, and over 60% of the vehicles produced are exported. Those operations include the most productive car and commercial vehicle plants in Europe. Against a background of sluggish demand elsewhere in Europe, the UK's sales and production figures continue to rise.
Component Manufacturing
It is estimated that over 7,000 UK companies supply a comprehensive range of components to the global automotive industry. Total annual export earnings exceed £7 billion. Out of the 20 leading component manufacturers in the world, 17 have established production facilities in the UK.
Aftermarket
The UK has the strongest independent aftermarket in Europe, with several thousand small operators doing business alongside the big household names. Annual export sales are estimated at £7 billion, to complement a domestic market worth a further £10 billion. This is a rapidly evolving sector, as new products enter the automotive arena from other industries. Key growth areas include vehicle diagnostics equipment, on-board multi-media, and logistics infrastructure management.
Design Engineering
Specialist design engineering companies play a central role in almost all new vehicle programmes, and the UK is an acknowledged world leader in this sector. British design engineering companies are expert in creating solutions across a wide spectrum of designing, styling, developing and testing projects. It is estimated that British companies account for approximately 20% of global independent design engineering business.
Motorsport
The UK is widely regarded as a world centre of excellence for motorsport and high performance engineering and technology, event infrastructure, creative services and merchandising.
The UK motorsport industry boasts a unique motorsport and high performance engineering cluster - known as Motorsport Valley - similar to that of the film industry in Hollywood or Silicon Valley in California, USA. This special business community results in the UK being the perfect location for overseas companies to invest in, do business and forge partnerships with, or even set up their own operation.
Cars, engines and other components that are designed and manufactured in the UK now excel in Formula 1, WRC, endurance sports cars racing (Le Mans), Champ Car, rallying and virtually every other type of motorsport.
With a high technology manufacturing base, sports and leisure audience and high profile financial backing, motorsport and performance engineering is a model knowledge-based industry.
UK Trade & Investment Automotive Sector Team
UK Trade & Investment is the United Kingdom government's lead organisation for supporting UK companies in overseas business, and for attracting inward investment. Supported by its parent departments - the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade & Industry - UK Trade & Investment has staff in over 200 locations worldwide, and more than 40 offices throughout the UK.
A dedicated Automotive Sector Team, based in Birmingham, has been created to work in partnership with the motor industry to build business success overseas. The members of the team are:
John Foote
Team Leader
Tel: 0141 228 3641
E-mail:
John.foote@uktradeinvest.gov.uk
Mohammad Asghar
Trade Development Manager
Tel: 0121 503 3368
E-mail:mohammadasghar@advantagewm.co.uk
Bahadur Dehar
Trade Development Officer
Tel: 0121 503 3372
E-mail:
bahadurdehar@advantagewm.co.uk
Automotive Sector Team
UK Trade & Investment
3 PRIESTLEY WHARF
HOLT STREET
ASTON SCIENCE PARK
BIRMINGHAM
B7 4BN
Priority Countries
The earlier work by DTI Automotive Unit and the activities of the Automotive Team with Posts over the last few months have led to the current list of countries where UKTI activity should be concentrated. This will be subject to review.
High Priority:
Automotive: China, India, S Africa, Mexico, Central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary).
Motorsport: USA, Japan, Germany, France and Italy
Others:
EU countries of Western Europe, Turkey, Brazil, Iran, Japan, S Korea, Canada, Argentina, Finland, Greece, Russia
Some automotive sector summaries for these countries can be found on
Opportunities - Country Specific
Other Contacts
In supporting international business development, the UK Trade & Investment Automotive Sector Team works closely with the specialist Automotive Unit within the Department of Trade & Industry and with the two principal trade associations - The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), representing all sectors of the automotive industry, and The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), representing the motorsport and performance engineering sectors.
Contact details:
International Dept
SMMT Ltd
Forbes House
Halkin Street
London SW1X 7DS
Tel 00 44 (0)20 7344 9260
Fax 00 44 (0)207344 1675
Email: international@smmt.co.uk
Website: http://www.smmt.co.uk
Motorsport Industry Association (MIA)
Federation House
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire CV8 2RF
Tel: +44 (0) 24 7669 2600
Fax: +44 (0) 24 7669 2601
Email:info@the-mia.com
Website: http://www.the-mia.com
Automotive Unit
The Automotive Directorate helps the UK vehicle and component industries compete and win. We do this by:
Encouraging industry to become more competitive;
Seeking to understand the industry, knowing the people who work in it, and
Responding to their concerns where we can help;
Promoting free markets at home and abroad;
Encouraging selective inward investment and exploiting market opportunities;
Keeping the UK at the forefront of developments in technology and continuing to bring Government and industry together.
Americas Team
020 7215 4151
Responsible for the DTI's relationship with the major American-owned vehicle manufacturers and suppliers based in the UK. The team also leads on the relationship with the UK construction equipment industry and on the implementation of a competitiveness programme with the Construction Equipment Association.
Asia Team
020 7215 1182
The Team is responsible for the relationship with vehicle and component manufacturers from Japan and other Asian countries. The team also promotes the long-term co-operation programme in China and the ' Total Package' international business development initiative. It has responsibility for issues affecting the tyre sector.
Europe Team
020 7215 1045
Responsible for relationships with major European-owned vehicle and component manufacturers based in the UK. This team also co-ordinates the Automotive Unit's work on powertrain – engines, transmissions and driveline components.
Analysis Team
020 7215 1158
The team is responsible for analysing key trends in the automotive sector and their implications for the future growth of the industry in the UK. It works closely with trade associations and academic and other analysts as well as drawing on the assessments of UK firms themselves.
Innovation and Technology Team
020 7215 1957
Responsible for relations with automotive design engineering companies. The team leads on strategic issues where innovation, technology and skills are central to the sustainable development of the automotive sector as a critical part of an integrated transport system. It is responsible for taking forward the DTI's objectives under the Powering Future Vehicles strategy and manages Foresight Vehicle and the relationship with SMMT Industry Forum.
Policy and Regulation Team
020 7215 1179
The team takes the lead on regulatory issues including Block Exemption, End of Life Vehicles and CO2 emissions. Its role is to ensure that industry's concerns are taken fully into account by Government and the European Commission. The team is responsible for the DTI's relationship with the two main automotive trade associations, the SMMT and the RMIF, and with the UK motorsport sector and its trade body the MIA.
Automotive Regional Unit
0121 212 5017
Based in Birmingham, this Team is responsible for relationships with UK-owned vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. The unit also takes the lead in working with regional organisations such as Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies. The team is responsible for working with the bus and coach sector, for liaison with the Motorcycle Industries Association on issues affecting the UK motorcycle industry and for the Automotive Industry website www.autoindustry.co.uk .
The www.autoindustry.co.uk website, run by the Department of Trade & Industry, seeks to provide a definitive, single reference point for the UK auto industry. Amongst the regularly up-dated contents are national and regional news, company profiles, statistics, listings of forthcoming events, and overseas business opportunities.
More information on all these sources of information and assistance can be found in the "Sector Expertise" section of this site.
