The UK must do what it can to win investment, says SMMT head
The car manufacturing industry will play a vital part in the rebuilding of Britain’s economy, according to the SMMT’s Paul Everitt.
The SMMT’s Chief Exec was speaking ahead of the party conferences in a bid to secure cross party support for measures to unlock private sector investment into Research & Development, specialist skills training and new plant and machinery.
Mr Everitt believes targeted incentives would encourage the British car industry to move towards a low carbon future.
“It is not a question of if investment in the global automotive industry will take place, but when and where it will happen,” he comments.
“The competition for high value investment is intense and it is essential the UK does all it can to win its share. The industry has demonstrated great strength and resilience and this has been rewarded by new commitments to UK facilities from global vehicle manufacturers.”
Paul will highlight this message at a number of party conference fringe events during the next three weeks.
He added: “There are now real opportunities to strengthen the UK supply base and bring new investment into fast emerging ultra-low carbon technologies. Targeted tax incentives and support programmes can help trigger the private sector investment needed to kick start growth.”
Year-on-year carbon decline
Earlier this year, the SMMT revealed how the average level of CO2 emitted by new cars has fallen by 3.5% to 144.2g/km.
Annual figures indicate a year-by-year decline in the amount of CO2 created by new cars with a decline of 20.3% since 2000.
What’s most striking is that this decline comes in contrast to the number of cars on UK roads and the average journey distance which have risen since the turn of the millennium.
These findings were revealed as part of the SMMT’s ‘New Car CO2 Report 2011’ which investigates carbon emissions and factors affecting their ever-decreasing pattern.
You can read the full 40-page document for free here.
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