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Britain’s car industry could be reborn as a world leader in developing green technology, and could get proper long-term government planning for its future, if the recommendations in a new report from leading industry figures are implemented.

The report sets out plans to nurture British car companies and set up an infrastructure that would ensure design and manufacturing takes place here. The industry-led New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team, which produced the document, says that num...Read the full article

Autocar:

The industry-led New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team, which produced the document, says that number of jobs in the UK automotive industry shrunk by 110,000 between 1997 and 2007. It says that what is left of the sector is fragile and blames the government for being ambivalent.

Very amusing. Always somebody else's fault. Nothing to do with the automotive industry being completely inept (producing too many of the wrong cars at the wrong prices that nobody wants) and not seeing the writing on the wall.

So another excuse to get more government funding ? We cannot borrow more money to put into this industry ! The pot is empty !!

If we can, great.

But a cynical electorate, will have to be convinced.

I am very open minded, but no British Government has ever convinced me that they are the repository of wisdom.

My first reaction to their announcements is, ultimately, disappointment.

 

 

If im honest I doubt we can do this and the government never has been supporting the car industry why would they support it now.

 I think the goverment will only allow vehicles like G-WIZ's and Prius's to be made in these eco factory NOT cars we actually want and shouldnt they protect the Vauxhall factories from being shut down by Fiat instead of making new factories surely the current factories can meet there plans with investment.

Dan McNeil:

Very amusing. Always somebody else's fault. Nothing to do with the automotive industry being completely inept (producing too many of the wrong cars at the wrong prices that nobody wants) and not seeing the writing on the wall.

Spot on!

Of course, the SMMT will love this publication, they already have a lot to answer for with this scrappage scheme, in my opinion

I think the current Government may actually be more interested in this now because they have just spent 1.3 trillion pounds trying to bail out the UK's banks. The Government was keen at one time to back financial services and banking to the hilt because they thought it could replace the likes of car making.

 But here's the problem. Like Iceland we became to dependant on banks for exports and now those banks have failed we the tax payer on the hook for billions and we now owe billions all over the world. The Pound is on the floor because we owe the world a fortune and we don't make anything. Rebuilding manufacturing looks more attractive right now. It probably feels more honest. And Green is the buzzword...

 

Well no-one else is willing to invest in the UK right now so it may as well be us.

Other countries seem very willing to invest in their own manufacturing bases.

Unfortunately the current governments view seems to be prop up the banking system at all costs and let everything else rot, and if people complain, make a few pointless token gestures as long as they dont cost much or commit us to actually doing anything.

Mr Parry-Jones is hugely respected in the industry for his achevements with Ford Europe, so I do tend to have a little time for what he says - this isnt a government report or a begging letter - the UK has traditionally been at the forefront of motor tech - just look at how many F1 teams are based here.