British car industry adds 44000 jobs to employ 750000 – Telegraph.co.uk

The figures, contained in the SMMT’s 15th annual sustainability report, showed
that of the 44,000 new jobs created in the sector, 14,000 were in
manufacturing.

People starting new roles in industry were reflected in domestic automotive
manufacturing turnover, which grew by 10.3pc to top £64bn last year. This
figure itself was fuelled by manufacturers investing heavily in research and
development, taking the amount of money spent on new technology and products
in 2013 to £1.9bn, an increase of 9.7pc on the previous year.

The SMMT’s report also examined the industry’s environmental impact. It found
that the amount of landfill waste created per vehicle produced in 2013
dropped by 41pc on the previous year to 3.49kg. This figures is also 91pc
lower than 15 years ago.

However, the energy required to produce a vehicle edged up, to 2.29 megawatts
per unit, from 2.22 megawatts the previous year. However, the long-term
trend is positive as it took an average of 3.1 megawatts to make each
vehicle in 1999.

Mr Hawes also warned that industry is facing challenges to continue to enjoy
its current levels of success, singling out the need to make sure that there
are enough technically skilled people to supply companies operating in the
sector.

He also said the industry should look at how reshoring can be encouraged to
bring work back to British shores.

“We want to grow the UK supply chain and reshore so much of the supply chain
that went offshore over past 10 to 15 years and bring it back to the UK,” Mr
Hawes said. “Manufacturers want a local supply chain, we need to do what we
can to ensure the UK supply chain is prosperous and competitive
internationally.”