UK Automotive – and our US partnership – remains resilient

A hallmark of UK Automotive is its resilience as a highly diverse and globally competitive manufacturing base. However, it is not immune to shocks and the recent cyber incident at the UK’s biggest vehicle manufacturer is a huge challenge for the company and the supply chain. It is evident that JLR is taking every possible measure, including working closely with government cyber experts, to return to full operations as quickly as possible. SMMT is fully engaged with JLR and the supply chain, as well as government, and today we were pleased to welcome officials from the Department of Business and Trade to an extraordinary meeting of the Automotive Components Section so they could listen directly to suppliers and understand the challenges and concerns they are facing.

The UK automotive industry has overcome many unprecedented challenges in recent years and, as an export-led sector, robust global partnerships are essential. One of our longest-standing and most productive is with the US, built on collaboration, investment and trade that has spanned many Presidents and Prime Ministers – and it’s a relationship that remains strong. The US market is fundamental for UK-based auto manufacturers as our largest after the entire EU bloc, and US and UK consumers have long enjoyed driving each other’s brands. The recent economic agreement protects critical trade and consumer choice on both sides and is a significant achievement on which this week’s state visit hopes to build.

Industry is already taking the initiative with SMMT leading a supply chain trade mission to the US states of Alabama and Tennessee in October, supported by the Department for Business and Trade and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The mission, including meetings with key players and contacts, from local OEMs to Tier one and two suppliers, as well as attendance at the Southern Automotive Conference, will help our members understand and get a foothold in the market. Registrations close on 25 September and you can express your interest here.

Closer to home, SMMT held our very first Drive Live road test event at the historic Coombe Abbey in the Midlands this week, welcoming nearly 100 journalists, content creators and influencers, together with 31 models from 12 manufacturers. The event provided a platform for members to demonstrate their latest vehicles and tech to the media, with days such as this – and the long running SMMT Test Day held in May – ever popular fixtures in our calendar.  The showpiece, however, continues to be the Annual Dinner, returning on Tuesday 25 November this year for its 108^th edition with more than 1,000 guests. Tickets are selling fast, so get yours here.