UK electric dreams held back by a lack of new cars being produced
05 March, 2023
Fears that the UK car industry will be in danger if it continues to fail to become a centre for electric car production as only three out of ten cars made last year were electric or hybrid.
Just three out of every 10 cars made in the UK last year were electric or hybrid. The figures come despite a ban on the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
There are fears manufacturing jobs in the UK car industry will be in danger if the country fails to become a centre for electric vehicle production.
Des Quinn, of the Unite union, said: “Ministers still do not seem to grasp that to retain a successful UK automotive sector and the valuable jobs it supports there needs to be concrete plans in place to ‘green’ our vehicle production and transport network. “The industry’s future depends on EV battery factories in the UK and a domestic supply chain that produces the full range of EV components and systems.”
Prof Peter Wells, director of Cardiff University’s Center for Auto-motive Industry Research, said: “Companies are scrambling to invest in battery production and new EV models.
The mainstream UK car and van industry is at risk without sufficient domestic supply of those crucial high-value battery packs. But we are already behind the pace compared with Europe.”
Production of cleaner energy cars has accelerated rapidly in recent years. In 2018, 9.4 percent were electric or hybrid, but last year the figure was 30.2 percent.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manu-facturers and Traders, said: “British electrified car production is charging ahead to record levels.
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Source: www.express.co.uk