Growth opportunities for UK automotive manufacturing identified

The report entitled "Growing the Automotive Supply Chain - the Road Forward" identifies some of the reasons for this, where purchasing decisions are made and where the UK has the potential capability to meet this currently untapped demand. The main areas of potential opportunity are interior and exterior parts which include headliners, carpets, seats, instrument panels and HVAC units, glass as well as exterior parts such as bumpers and large plastic mouldings; powertrain and body' parts including suspensions, castings, forgings and transmission components; and, electrics and electronic' parts which includes power steering, engine control units and alternators. The report also identifies that, contrary to popular belief, even lost contracts need not necessarily be lost for ever. A third of recent contracts that left the UK went to manufacturers in Western Europe rather than low cost economies. Overall this too is positive as this represents business that could be won back by the UK. The purchasing directors of 11 major UK-based vehicle manufacturers (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) were surveyed in order to identify which components are currently sourced in the UK; which ones are not and why; and which parts they would like to buy in the UK and are not currently buying. 140 suppliers responded to a questionnaire developed to cross-validate these findings and assess the reciprocal views of the UK-based automotive suppliers. The total purchasing spend of the 11 manufacturer companies surveyed is £7.4 billion, which accounts for, on average, 36% of their global purchasing spend (although the amount purchased in the UK, in relation to their worldwide purchasing spend ranges from 11% to 83% for the individual companies). The "Growing the Automotive Supply Chain - the Road Forward" report can be downloaded at the link below.