Economy

The first UK India Business Centre was officially opened this week in Gurgaon, near Delhi.

Representatives from the UK automotive supply chain were given an insight into the opportunities presented by the industry’s continued growth at the SMMT Open Forum this week.

Production of the London Taxi Company’s (LTC) iconic TX4 black cab has restarted at its Coventry plant, following significant facility improvements and job creation by new owners, Geely Group.

The CBI has published a new report calling on government to strengthen UK supply chains though delivery of its industrial strategy plans.

Transport Minister, Norman Baker MP, has today launched Driving the Future Today, the strategy to implement £500m funding to support in Ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV), which was announced earlier this year.

As the March ’13 registration plate’ nears the end of its six-month run and September’s new 63-plate waits in the wings, SMMT has revealed that the 13-plate has outsold the past nine registration plates.

Following a consultation with industry, government has announced plans to relax cabotage rules around peak vehicle registration periods. Around 400,000 new cars and vans are registered in both March and September, with the two months collectively accounting for more than a third of the UK’s new vehicle registrations.

The UK automotive industry was highly praised on tonight’s BBC Top Gear, the world’s most popular motoring television programme.

UK-based sports car manufacturer and engineering expert, Lotus, has announced that it will create more than 100 jobs in engineering and manufacturing at its Hethel, Norfolk headquarters.

SMMT forecasts new car and van registrations for the UK to 2014. The forecasts are prepared by the SMMT’s Economics Team and are revised on a quarterly basis. Download the latest forecast here: July 2013