The UK’s government and automotive industry have pledged to invest GBP500m (USD755m, 15 July 2013) each over the next 10 years in an Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to develop and commercialise low-carbon technologies for vehicles, according to a press release on government information website www.gov.uk. The centre will be supported by 27 companies including supply chain companies. The 27 companies are: Bentley, BMW Group, Bosch, BP, Castrol InnoVentures, Caterpillar, Ford, GKN plc, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Intelligent Energy, JCB, JLR, Lotus, MAHLE Powertrain, McLaren, Millbrook Proving Ground, MIRA, Morgan, Nissan, Optare, Productiv, RDM Ltd, Ricardo, SMMT, Tata Motors, Transport Systems Catapult Ltd, and West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium Ltd.
Significance: The UK government is working with the automotive industry to maintain the country’s competitiveness and to project it as a manufacturing location for advanced technologies. The USD1.5bn investments from government and industry are expected to preserve around 30,000 jobs in engine production and create more jobs in the supply chain. These investments are in line with the government’s thinking that beyond 2040 vehicles will no longer have traditional petrol or diesel engines. The partnership between the industry and the government aims to derive best synergies to grow the supply chain and secure more overseas business. “With the next generation of vehicles set to be powered by radically different technologies we need to maintain this momentum and act now. Our industrial strategy will ensure we keep on working together to make our automotive industry a world leader”, said Vince Cable, Business Secretary.
