Manufacturing and Supply

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.

Land Rover is celebrating its commitment to UK manufacturing and the domestic supply chain by exhibiting a selection of vehicles and components at SMMT’s headquarters in Westminster. Starting today and running for two weeks, the exhibition features the all-new Range Rover Sport, best-selling Range Rover Evoque and a number of UK-built components.

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.

With vehicle and engine plants in the UK, Toyota is a major force in UK automotive manufacturing and is showcasing the diversity of its model line-up in a two-week-long exhibition at SMMT’s Westminster headquarters. The exhibition includes the best-selling Auris Hybrid, and the high-performance GT86 sports car.

Bentley Motors has announced that it will proceed with the development of the Bentley SUV, the company’s fourth model line, at its Crewe facility from 2016. The SUV will create more than 1,000 jobs in the UK, with Bentley investing more than £800m in its headquarters at Crewe and the development of new models over the next three years.

SMMT’s weekly round-up, including all the latest news from UK automotive.

UK car manufacturing grew 1.1% in the first half of 2013, to 764,390 units.

A new research facility at Brunel University, which will help revolutionise manufacturing methods for UK car makers, has been announced today. as part of government’s £85 million investment in technologies to drive growth.

Component manufacturer, Stadco, has confirmed a £15 million investment in its Telford-based facility that will support the installation of a new production line at the site.