About The Automotive Council
The Automotive Council was established in 2009 to enhance dialogue and strengthen co-operation between UK government and the automotive sector.
The Council is made up of senior figures from across industry and government, meeting three times per year.
In July 2013, the Automotive Council published the sector strategy: Driving Success – a strategy for growth and sustainability in the UK automotive sector. This long term plan sets out a range of actions to addresses the cross-cutting objectives of improving access to finance, support for emerging and disruptive technologies, skills development and improving the competitiveness of the UK supply chain.
Industry-government collaboration through the Automotive Council has been vital to the sector’s ongoing success, with the Automotive Sector Deal published in 2018 to ensure the right conditions for further growth.
Following the Governments ten point plan (2020) for a green industrial revolution, with the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) launched that year too, the Automotive roadmap: driving us all forward was published in 2022, this consolidated the government’s policies to enable the automotive sector to transition to zero emission vehicles effectively.
Most recently the UK’s Industrial Strategy (2025) sets a long-term framework for growing priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing. Within this, the Advanced Manufacturing Plan sets out how the UK will remain competitive to 2035, with automotive identified as a strategic sector. The plan focuses on vehicle electrification, strengthening domestic supply chains, attracting inward investment, and building the skills and infrastructure needed to support high-volume vehicle production in the UK.
As part of the Strategy, DRIVE35 is a £2.5 billion programme supporting the transformation of the UK automotive sector through to 2035. It brings together capital investment and R&D funding under a single framework, building on the ATF and existing innovation programmes. DRIVE35 is structured around three pillars: Transformation (large-scale manufacturing investment), Scale-Up (support to move technologies into production), and Innovation (R&D for next-generation vehicle and manufacturing technologies).
The activities of the Automotive Council are channelled through mission and enabling groups supported by a variety of working groups. These groups provide industry evidence, advice and recommendations that are important contributions into government.
our vision
Building a competitive future for the UK automotive sector
what we do
SMMT members are part of a powerful, united voice that is recognised and respected by policy makers in the UK, EU and beyond. They benefit from influential advocacy, the ability to inform policy and regulation, access to expert advice and market-leading data and intelligence, as well as extensive business development and networking opportunities globally.
ADVOCACY
Help shape the industry’s future via our agenda-setting specialist committees, events and government engagement
market intelligence
Tap into the latest automotive trends, and plan ahead with unrivalled data and analysis at preferential rate
international services
Get support to trade overseas, win new business and grow your presence in international markets
Targeted networking
Make new business connections at our year-round portfolio of conferences, events and roadshows
Innovation support
Benefit from funding advice and profit-raising platforms, and participate in SMMT’s technical legislative work
Manufacturing competitiveness
Access specialist certification, training and consultancy to help you achieve manufacturing excellence and grow your business
our people
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd is structured to cover individual areas of expertise.
uk automotive at a glance
UK Automotive plays a critical role in the economy and society – keeping Britain on the move. Automotive is a major contributor to the nation’s economic wellbeing, investing in and developing technologies to advance zero emission mobility, and providing well-paid skilled jobs in businesses and their supply-chains in all regions across the UK
1,952,778
New cars registered in 2024
603,565
vehicles exported in 2024
779,584
cars built in 2024
796,000
people employed across UK auto
41,964,268
vehicles on uk roads
125,649
commercial vehicles built in 2024
The SMMT Group is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
SMMT Group needs to be representative of the industry it champions and the consumers it serves so our own workforce must be a mirror to broader society. This five-year strategy is our roadmap and the destination is clear. Above all, it is testament to our ambition and our commitment to create a culture where all can thrive and drive success together.