The UK’s Automotive Industry
The automotive industry in the UK is one that many don’t know much about, but it is an exciting, growing industry. Sights are currently set on breaking the record for the number of car’s produced in a year. The current record was set in 1972 with 1.92 million cars driving out of the UK’s factories. It is expected that we will hit the two million mark in 2015. As recently as 2011 the figures were 1.3 million, so this is a massive increase of over 50%. Considering the economic downturn, it is exciting to see a major UK industry helping to lead the economic recovery.
Things you may not know about the automotive industry in the UK:
- In the UK there are 7 volume car manufacturers, 3 volume commercial vehicle manufacturers, 11 manufacturers of buses and coaches, over 25 niche and specialist vehicle manufacturers and eight Formula One teams, along with a large concentration of motorsport firms in an area known as Motorsport Valley.
- The manufacturing sector employs 145,000 people.
- The automotive industry in the UK employs more than 700,000 people in manufacturing, retail and aftermarket sectors including a range of showrooms, garages and car tyre retailers.
- An average of 1.5 million cars and commercial vehicles are produced each year, and over 2.5 million engines. 80% of the vehicles, and 70% of the engines are then exported.
- Exports make it the largest export sector with 11% of total UK exports, generating about £30 billion annual revenue.
- It is an environmentally friendly industry! They are investing in research and development to create cleaner, safer, more fuel efficient cars with low carbon footprints. Green car tyres are part of this investment.