Leading figures from across the automotive sector will gather in Westminster today to debate and discuss the key issues impacting the global industry. Speakers of the highest calibre from the global automotive industry and finance sectors, alongside leading political figures, will convey unique insights on the automotive industry at the industry’s annual conference.
Speaking ahead of the Summit, Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise who will deliver the event’s closing speech said, “A strong manufacturing base is an essential part of ensuring growth of the UK’s economy, with the automotive industry leading the way as our number one manufactured export. Last year, the UK exported over £27 billion-worth of vehicles and parts.
“Working in partnership with the industry, the government’s ambition is to make the UK the leader in the research, development, demonstration, manufacture and use of low carbon vehicles. By taking this important work forward together, we can help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of automotive innovation and in doing so encourage more young people to choose manufacturing and engineering as their career.”
Stephen Odell, Ford Group Vice President and Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe will deliver the industry keynote address, discussing the breadth of Ford activities in the UK and the country’s significance in the wider automotive industry. Calling on his experience working around the world in senior positions with Ford, Volvo, Mazda and Jaguar, he will illustrate to attendees the reasons why the UK is a prime location for global automotive investment.
Updates on the day’s events will be available on the SMMT Summit microsite, and discussion will continue online using the #SMMT hashtag on Twitter.
As part of the programme, SMMT is also streaming a live lunchtime webcast from the Summit during which viewers can submit questions via e-mail or Twitter. The webcast will feature an expert panel of senior industry executives that includes Paul Everitt, Chief Executive of SMMT; Richard Parry Jones, Co-Chairman of the Automotive Council; Chas Hallett, Editor-in-Chief of What Car? and Nigel Stein, Chief Executive of GKN Automotive. The panel will be live online from 13:45 on Tuesday 28 June. The on-demand version will be available from 19:00.
For further details about the event, including a full agenda, visit the SMMT International Automotive Summit microsite.
