This represents a very positive start for the Automotive Council. I look forward to seeing further successes from the close collaboration between industry and government.
The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, co-chairman
Welcome to the Automotive Council, a new organisation supporting the automotive industry in Britain.
This is a vital industry for UK plc, employing over 700,000 people and generating 10% of the country’s exports.
To date the automotive industry has a great record of innovation. But like all industries, it needs to do more and the desire to deliver vital breakthroughs in low carbon technologies, attract the best brains as its future life-blood and forge close partnerships with government, government agencies and academia, has never been greater.
With the backing of the UK’s motor industry trade body, the SMMT, the Automotive Council is deploying world-class British automotive talent to drive through this significant agenda.
Our consultative forum with government is already ensuring a close partnership with policy makers, while our co-ordinating role inside the automotive industry will sustain a high-level conversation to the benefit of OEM manufacturers and their suppliers.
We have already established working groups to drive towards these goals by channelling resources into future low carbon technologies and the infrastructure to support them.
Britain needs to attract inward investment, too, and the Automotive Council will strive to bring new overseas auto businesses to the UK, stressing the fertile conditions for investing in Britain.
If this sounds like an ambitious agenda, so be it. We look forward to striving towards these goals.
Richard-Parry Jones CBE
Co-chairman, Automotive Council
Welcome to the Automotive Council, a new organisation supporting the automotive industry in Britain.
This is a vital industry for UK plc, employing over 700,000 people and generating 10% of the country’s exports.
To date the automotive industry has a great record of innovation. But like all industries, it needs to do more and the desire to deliver vital breakthroughs in low carbon technologies, attract the best brains as its future life-blood and forge close partnerships with government, government agencies and academia, has never been greater.
With the backing of the UK’s motor industry trade body, the SMMT, the Automotive Council is deploying world-class British automotive talent to drive through this significant agenda.
Our consultative forum with government is already ensuring a close partnership with policy makers, while our co-ordinating role inside the automotive industry will sustain a high-level conversation to the benefit of OEM manufacturers and their suppliers.
We have already established working groups to drive towards these goals by channelling resources into future low carbon technologies and the infrastructure to support them.
Britain needs to attract inward investment, too, and the Automotive Council will strive to bring new overseas auto businesses to the UK, stressing the fertile conditions for investing in Britain.
If this sounds like an ambitious agenda, so be it. We look forward to striving towards these goals.
Richard-Parry Jones CBE
Co-chairman, Automotive Council