The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy and integral to supporting the delivery of the agendas for levelling up, net zero, advancing global Britain, and the plan for growth. Automotive-related manufacturing contributes £93 billion turnover and £22 billion value added to the UK economy, and typically invest around £4 billion each year in R&D.
With more than 198,000 people employed in manufacturing and some 813,000 in total across the wider automotive industry. Many of these automotive manufacturing jobs are outside London and the South-East, with wages that are around 13% higher than the UK average. The sector accounts for 12% of total UK exports of goods with more than 140 countries importing UK produced vehicles, generating £115 billion of trade in total automotive imports and exports.
More than 25 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by 2,500 component providers and some of the world’s most skilled engineers.
Over 905,117 cars, 120,357 commercial vehicles and 1.62 million engines were built in the UK in 2023.
Eight out of 10 cars produced in the UK are exported overseas to 140 different markets worldwide.
