Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

The 107th #SMMTAnnualDinner was a chance to look back at 2024 & reflect on why the auto industry matters so much. A vital part of the economy, integral to growth, the delivery of net zero & a global trade hub. The prize on offer is great. £50bn of green growth over the next decade

Realising the economic and social benefits of #selfdrivingvehicles requires addressing the challenges associated with regulation, public acceptance, commercialisation and scaling. But overcoming these hurdles is best done collaboratively between government and industry within and across borders. This will ensure regulation is harmonised as much as possible and commercialisation opportunities are maximised across national markets. With this in mind, we were delighted to join the UK Mission to the European Union at an event hosted at the British Residence in Brussels yesterday to discuss the future of self-driving vehicles regulation and commercialisation. David Wong and our members JLR, Wayve and Oxa presented industry’s views, while officials from Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, RDW, German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, European Commission, as well as ERTICO - ITS Europe, shared their approaches to regulation. Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Caroline Read #OpenTradeProject #automatedvehicles #autonomousvehicles #CAM #automotive #innovation #AI

Coming soon! National Apprenticeship Week runs from February 10th to 14th, and the Auto30Club is marking it with our My Apprenticeship Story campaign! Any female current or former apprentice can join in, (no need to be in a Club member company) in any role, from any part of the sector. We need to show the huge variety of jobs that our female apprentices have. The campaign also includes visits to schools and colleges for students to meet female automotive apprentices. We know that meeting young female relatable role models inspires a much wider range of both boys and girls than male apprentices do, due to the countering of stereotypes. Do you know a female apprentice who could inspire others to follow in her footsteps? Mark Field IAAF NFDA | National Franchised Dealers Association Retail Motor Industry Federation Ltd (RMI) Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) ABP Group

UK commercial vehicle production flies high in 2024 January is typically a gloomy time of year but UK commercial vehicle manufacturing has continued to give us a shot of optimism, with the latest annual SMMT data published this week showing output volumes grew by 4.0% year on year in 2024. With more than 125,000 vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches leaving factory lines, that’s the highest output since 2008 – a whopping 16-year best. Industry should also be proud that numbers of those vehicles being exported increased by 6.6% last year compared with 2023, reaching 82,097 units. Almost two thirds (65.3%) of all production was allocated to international markets, showing the importance of UK-made vehicles to countries around the world. It also underlines how important trade is to our sector, especially with the EU, where 97.8% of all exports headed. The growth came despite some of our manufacturing facilities having reduced capacity following a backlog in orders and supply chain issues that stem all the way back to the Covid pandemic. Some production lines also changed over to new models, which temporarily hindered output. Our sector’s performance is fantastic news for the UK economy, given that growth is greatly needed. But there are significant challenges expected in 2025 as manufacturers adjust global production to deliver an increasingly zero emission future, and in the UK, light commercial vehicle volumes are expected to fall by -40.9% following the closure of a long-standing van plant in Luton. The transition brings challenges and opportunities and our potential for growth is clear with the UK building a full range of zero emission commercial vehicles, including vans, taxis, single and double decker buses and, for the first time, trucks. With that, output of battery electric commercial vehicles is expected to grow by more than 85% this year as our sector futureproofs itself and thousands of jobs for the global EV transition. Industry is investing massively to make growth greener but the UK needs substantial support from government to make our country even more attractive for manufacturing and supply chain investment. With new industrial and trade strategies anticipated soon, both of these must provide the right conditions for that investment, including affordable green energy, a broad range of measures that support a strong domestic market for all the different zero emission products, and strong and free trade deals with major and emerging markets to export the vehicles being made here. More investment will mean more innovation and production for our special sector, to continue flying the UK industry’s flag at home and around the world.

Yesterday I attended my first regional Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) event hosted by Catesby Projects. They were a very welcoming crowd. The tour of the Catesby tunnel, a 2.7km long straight road test track used for extensive vehicle assessment studies, was previously part of a redundant railway line built in the late 1800s. I was struck by how repurposing older infrastructure could be used to innovate. I'm really looking forward to attending more events in the future to meet with more people and learn more about the creativity inside the UK automotive sector.

Delighted to discuss regulation and commercialisation of #automatedvehicles with Hannah Newell, Daisy Cummins, Antoine de Kort, Jamie Hodsdon, Anita Geißler, Simon Connick, Sarah Gates, Doru Ghioca, Maria Cristina Galassi, Stephane Dreher and Zoë Compston. In the development and deployment of any new technology where the pathways to market may not be entirely clear yet, listening to and learning from different perspectives can be immensely useful. We're always stronger and the outcomes are always better when we work together in partnership. None of us is as good as all of us. UK Mission to the European Union, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Caroline Read, Dominik Leeson, Christopher Kunkler, Michael Somerton, Chris Hallam, Charles Morgan #selfdriving #selfdrivingvehicles #autonomousvehicles #CAM #automotive #autotech #AI #OpenTradeProject

Join us next month for our first UK Energy Markets Webinar of the year! Stay ahead in the ever-evolving UK energy landscape, with expert reviews, key market movements, and Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme updates. Key Highlights: ✅ Expert insights into UK gas, electricity, and oil price trends. ✅Understand the forces driving the markets and how to mitigate risks. ✅ Learn how the updated Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme impacts manufacturers and how to ensure compliance. ✅ Interactive Q&A Session – Ask your pressing questions and get actionable advice from our expert panel. Speakers: 🎤 Richard King – Head of Trading & Risk Management 🎤 Alastair Wood – Senior Energy & Carbon Consultant 🗓 Tuesday 4th February 🕚 11:00 am - 11:45 am 📍 Online This free webinar is essential for businesses navigating the complexities of the energy market and compliance challenges. Spaces are limited, register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/eaRbmUfe #EnergyMarkets #ClimateChangeAgreement #Manufacturing #Webinar #UKEnergy

Realising the economic and social benefits of #selfdrivingvehicles requires addressing the challenges associated with regulation, public acceptance, commercialisation and scaling. But overcoming these hurdles is best done collaboratively between government and industry within and across borders. This will ensure regulation is harmonised as much as possible and commercialisation opportunities are maximised across national markets. With this in mind, we were delighted to join the UK Mission to the European Union at an event hosted at the British Residence in Brussels yesterday to discuss the future of self-driving vehicles regulation and commercialisation. David Wong and our members JLR, Wayve and Oxa presented industry’s views, while officials from Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, RDW, German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, European Commission, as well as ERTICO - ITS Europe, shared their approaches to regulation. Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Caroline Read #OpenTradeProject #automatedvehicles #autonomousvehicles #CAM #automotive #innovation #AI

We are delighted to announce that the following speakers will be joining the agenda at #SMMTElectrified 2025:    David Kiss, Managing Director, DAF Trucks UK   Ian Plummer, Commercial Director, Auto Trader UK  Emma Ward, Director General, Road Transport Group, Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom   The conference will take place will take place on Thursday 13 March at the QEII Centre in London and will comprise a combination of informative keynote sessions and engaging panel discussions, with an audience of over 400 senior level representatives from across the breadth of the industry in attendance.    The topics, speaker line up and timing for the day can be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/euNuTZtk   For further information about how to register to attend, exhibit or become an event partner, please email [email protected] or visit https://lnkd.in/eBUudHr6   #SMMTElectrified #ukautomotiveindustry #globalmarket #electrification #zeroemission #netzero #technology #innovation #people #skills #EVmanufacturing Shoosmiths

🚗 Yesterday the UK Mission and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) were privileged to host leading policy makers, thinkers and industry experts from across Europe to discuss the future of automated vehicles as part of our #OpenTradeProject. 🤝 We heard about what industry needs to drive commercialisation, from regulatory certainty to cross border testing opportunities to public education. Policy makers from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the European Commission reflected on their approaches to these issues. 🗝️ There's an awful lot to be excited about and collaboration is going to be key to deploying autonomous vehicles safely across Europe. 📜 For those interested do check out the UK's landmark AV Act (Automated Vehicles Act 2024) which was passed last year: https://lnkd.in/eyYzqr7K