The UK’s automotive sector is set to receive nearly £130 million of combined government and industry investment to accelerate zero-emission vehicle technologies and self-driving projects. The funding, which consists of nearly £65 million of government funding directly matched by the same amount from industry, will be delivered through the DRIVE35 programme – supporting over 1,800 skilled jobs across the UK.
The DRIVE35 scheme has around £4 billion committed up till 2035, to speed up the electrification of the automotive sector. The programme is designed to anchor future vehicle production, scale up local battery manufacturing, and further localise automotive supply chains within the UK.
Around £50 million of this fresh government investment will be awarded to automotive and R&D firms, to help build zero-emission vehicle technologies at scale. The government says this will not only help drive economic growth, but also bring down the cost of EVs for the public at the same time. This latest funding isn’t just focused on EV technologies however, with money also going towards self-driving technology.
A long list of UK firms will benefit from this latest round of funding, with some highlights including Bentley Motors, YASA (the firm behind the electric motors finding their way into electric Mercedes-AMG products), Cornish Lithium, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, and more.
UK Industry Minister, Blair McDougall, commented:
“Britain invented the modern motor industry and we’re determined to ensure the next generation of vehicles are designed and built here too. This investment will secure skilled jobs, strengthen our manufacturing heartlands and help drive the reindustrialisation of Britain. Through our Modern Industrial Strategy we’re backing working people and British businesses to deliver growth in every part of the country.”
Ian Constance, Chief Executive at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, added:
“The projects announced today demonstrate the depth of innovation and engineering excellence that exists across the UK automotive sector. Through DRIVE35, we are supporting businesses to move promising technologies to commercial deployment and manufacturing at scale.
This investment is about far more than individual projects. It is about strengthening the UK’s capability to design, develop and build the technologies that will define the vehicles of the future. By bringing together industry, government and academia, DRIVE35 is helping create the conditions for long-term growth, increasing investor confidence and reinforcing the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading destinations for automotive innovation.”
