Britain’s commercial vehicle sector is in a period of accelerated change, with innovative trials up and down the country, and cutting-edge products and services that put us at the forefront of the global green transition. With countries on every continent racing to deliver decarbonisation, it’s more important than ever that UK businesses work together to achieve their shared goals. However, given that our CV sector is one of the broadest and most diverse in the world, discovering the best business partners is not always simple.
As the UK automotive industry’s trade body, SMMT has the expertise, knowledge and experience to help businesses in their next stage of development. One example is our Automotive Supplier Finder (ASF), the largest online supplier directory for the industry, detailing more than 10,000 companies in some 6,000 categories, such as automated, connected, electrified and services – with the ultimate goal of sparking successful relationship-building between buyers and suppliers.
The directory has advanced search functionality that includes sending requests for information and quotations to suppliers, streamlining the critical conversations that underpin growth and development across the sector. ASF is available for all to use, and SMMT members enjoy key benefits, such as an enhanced company profile with priority listing and additional categories, delivering greater visibility and more precise engagement.
SMMT also hosts regular in-person networking events such as Meet the Buyer, Open Forum and leads UK pavilions at international events such as last week’s Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS36) in Sacramento, US, helping SMMT members to form business connections at home and abroad.
Next month, SMMT will stage a new event called Meet the Van Converter, taking place on 20 July at our head office in Westminster, London. A large percentage of light commercial vehicles are fitted by van converters, with custom built interiors such as racking and storage devices that help with load security. This event, attended by the likes of Ford Pro, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Stellantis and Toyota, will provide the perfect platform for developing new partnerships and introducing recognition schemes.
Businesses and individuals can sign up for Meet the Van Convertor here. Alternatively, find out more about SMMT membership here.
