SMMT warns EU 'Made in Europe' plan could shut out UK-built vehicles
SMMT says the European Commission's proposals risk excluding UK-built vehicles from EU incentives and procurement, citing Oxford Economics figures on a trade relationship it values at €80 billion a year.
SMMT has warned that the European Commission's 'Made in Europe' proposals could exclude UK-built vehicles from EU market incentives and procurement schemes, in an update from its chief executive.
The trade body cited new analysis it commissioned from Oxford Economics, which it said shows UK automotive production supports €24 billion of economic activity, 250,000 jobs and €1.6 billion in tax revenue across the EU.
SMMT described the UK-EU automotive relationship as worth €80 billion a year, with the UK the EU's largest export market for passenger cars and vice versa, and the biggest importer of EU-built components. It said it is in both sides' long-term interest that 'Made in Europe' treats UK-produced vehicles as "assembled in the EU" for the purposes of the scheme.
SMMT said Prime Minister Andy Burnham's affirmation this week that he is focused on the issue was "incredibly important", and called for the next UK-EU summit, due before the end of the year, to address it.
The warning followed Bentley's confirmation, a day earlier, of a £350 million commitment to its first EV model, to be built in Crewe, which SMMT said represented "a massive vote of confidence in the future of UK manufacturing, skills and innovation".
SMMT's update also noted the second edition of SMMT Drive Live took place in Worcestershire, where more than half of the vehicles available to test drive were electric. Separate SMMT analysis published at the event stated that EV model availability has more than doubled over the past three years, now exceeding 170 options from more than 60 global brands.
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