The UK automotive manufacturing industry is already responding to Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget announcement, which called for the country to produce and export more. This week, a number of car, commercial vehicle and engine manufacturers have announced new investments and business contracts.
Investing in automotive manufacturing
JLR’s new 7,900 tonne press in Halewood
Jaguar Land Rover announced a £45 million investment in a new state-of the-art servo press line at its Halewood facility. The investment includes the installation of a 7,900 tonne stamping machine, which will provide greater speed and flexibility in the production of parts.
Jaguar Land Rover’s body shops across the UK are currently working around the clock to fulfil customer orders, with Halewood producing two of its highest-selling vehicles, the Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover Evoque for more than 170 countries.
Bentley has also announced that it will employ a further 100 people at its facility in Crewe as it becomes a centre of excellence for the W12 engine, which it will begin exporting to other manufacturers in the Volkswagen Group. The recruitment drive is part of an £800 million investment pledged by Bentley earlier in the year.
Bentley to become W12 centre of excellence
Increasing commercial vehicle demand
UK bus and coach manufacturer, Alexander Dennis, has today signed a £100m deal to produce 600 vehicles for National Express over the next five years. The deal will see the Falkirk-based manufacturer deliver more than 100 low-emission buses in 2014, with 125 additional vehicles following each year until 2018.
With its turnover tripled in 2013 to £500 million, Alexander Dennis employs 2,300 globally, 900 of which are based in Falkirk.
Outlook for UK automotive manufacturing
In line with yesterday’s budget announcement, the UK automotive industry expects to increase its manufacturing might in the coming years. It is predicted that by 2017, the UK will produce more than two million cars per year – higher than its all-time record of 1.92 million in 1972.
This year, a host of new models will begin production from the new MINI in Oxford and new Qashqai in Sunderland to Vauxhall’s new Vivaro van in Luton. In 2015 the UK will see a new brand introduced to domestic production as Infiniti starts building new models in Sunderland, while Jaguar Land Rover will open its first dedicated engine facility in Wolverhampton.
Take a look at SMMT Motor Industry Facts 2014 for more information on UK automotive manufacturing.
