The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders calls on Government for a clear Green Automotive Transformation strategy

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have today published a blueprint for the future of electric vehicle manufacturing in the UK. Titled Race to Zero: Powering Up Britain’s EV Supply Chain, the document highlights the strength of UK businesses working in related fields and sets out a routemap for bringing these technologies together to allow the UK to compete as an EV manufacturing nation.

There are fears that UK-based industries could be left out of the mix following Biden’s multibillion-dollar package of green subsidies in the US and the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan, which aims to enhance the EU’s manufacturing strength in technologies like solar and wind energy, heat pumps, and batteries.

The blueprint identifies investment (eg: include more generous subsidies, upskilling the workforce competitive energy costs), regulation and planning requirements (eg: update outdated regulation, reduce red tape and fast-track approvals for battery production and renewable energy projects) and trade (eg: expand and enhance free trade deals, partner with mineral-rich nations, promoted British investment in critical material mining) as the three pillars on which a world-leading industry can be built.

The UK already produces almost every component required to manufacture electric vehicles, from batteries, powertrains, fuel cells and power electronics to anodes, rare earth magnets, graphene and silicon carbide wafers but the SMMT argue that the UK’s capability and must be scaled up quickly.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: ‘Britain boasts a firm foundation of EV production, backed by low carbon energy, outstanding R&D and a highly skilled and productive workforce. We must not squander these advantages. With other parts of the world turbocharging their support for the zero emission vehicle transition, we need to step up to compete in this global race. Every part of the country has a stake in the switch and with fast, decisive action we can deliver for Britain the growth, jobs and green prosperity this country deserves.’