CEO Update

The UK’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) transition came under fresh scrutiny today with the publication of the all-important plate-change month performance data. In good news, both the new car and van markets were up in September, but the scorecard shows…

The annual party conference season moved to Liverpool this week as the Labour Party hosted its first as the party of power since 2009. We were pleased to meet with new and senior politicians to discuss how the UK automotive…

With the UK’s autumn political conference season underway, we were pleased to join the Liberal Democrats in Brighton this week amid an expectedly buoyant atmosphere following the party’s big increase in MPs in the General Election. SMMT hosted a constructive…

As car ownership in Britain reached an all-time high of 35.7 million vehicles last year – and adding to that record an ever growing number of zero emission vehicles on our roads – new opportunities abound for aftermarket businesses to…

Figures released yesterday by SMMT revealed how the UK new car market held steady in August, down just -1.3% to 84,575 units, with many buyers preferring to wait for September’s new number plate. This hold back invariably means August is the quietest…

As August and the ‘summer shutdowns’ period draws to a close, next week will be very much ‘back to business’ for the automotive industry, and indeed, the wider economy. That business is, however, very challenging and, as we saw this…

In little more than a week the UK Parliament returns with a busy legislative agenda. High amongst its priorities will be measures to stimulate economic growth and the automotive sector can be the driver of that change. The Labour Party…

As future leaders in England and Wales received their A-Level results yesterday, now embarking on the next exciting chapter of their lives, it’s a reminder that our industry is built on generations of ambitious and talented young people joining our…

Just as Britain’s athletes break records on the track, so motorists are setting them on the road with the latest SMMT figures this week showing a 24-month run of growth in demand for new cars. It means more of the…

Arriving a month into the new government’s growth agenda, this week’s announcement that a new trade strategy will be a cornerstone of wider industrial plans represents a major opportunity for automotive. Given that the sector is, traditionally, the UK’s largest exporter of…