PARIS - The Best of British will be fully showcased at this years Paris Motor Show.

• 8 British-built cars and industry leaders join forces to promote UK Automotive ahead of key Paris motor show.
• UK brands more popular than ever, with exports reaching record levels in 2015, and almost 900,000 cars shipped to global buyers in first eight months of 2016.
• £10 billion invested in UK over past five years to produce new models and enhance UK’s position as a centre for engineering excellence.

EightvofvthevUK’s major car brands united today at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on the eve of the key international motor show to demonstrate the diversity and quality of cars currently produced in the UK. 

Senior executives from British based manufacturers, including Aston Martin, BMW MINI,vHonda,vJaguar-Land Rover, McLaren, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall, were joined by Mark Garnier MP, the British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, to promote the strength of the UK automotive sector to a global audience.

ThecUKvautomotive industry has undergone unprecedented growth in recent years –thanks to competitive business conditions, tariff-free trading and significant investment in new models and facilities. 

Car manufacturing achieved a 10-year high last year and British-built cars have never been so popular, with a record 1.2 million cars exported to more than 100 countries. Already in the first eight months of 2016, that total looks set to be beaten this year, with exports reaching almost 900,000 vehicles –13% ahead of the same period in 2015.1

The UK’s biggest trading partner is the European Union and 57.3% of UK-produced cars have been exported to the rest of the EU so far this year, followed by 12.1% to the US and 7.1% to China. While the US topped the list of individual countries buying British cars, EU Member States took six of the top 10 places: Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The UK automotive industry is respected globally for its rich heritage, iconic brands and engineering excellence. More than £10 billion of investment has gone into new facilities and models over the past five years and we’re proud to see so many rival brands coming together to promote the strengths of UK Automotive ahead of a key international motor show. The future success of this sector will hinge upon the ability of the UK to maintain the business and trading conditions that make the sector so competitive globally.”

Huge sums are invested into the UK to develop, manufacture and bring to market vehicles that are cleaner, more fuel efficient, safer and more advanced every year. When it comes to ultra low emission vehicles and plug-in cars in particular, the UK has a strong record, with a £1 billion joint industry-government initiative to develop advanced propulsion technologies, while the UK ultra-low emission car market itself is the second fastest growing market in Europe after Spain.2

Meanwhile, the UK is already earning a reputation as a global development hub for connected and autonomous vehicles, thanks to significant industry and government investment. The ability to trial these cars on public roads – as a result of the UK not having ratified the Vienna convention some decades ago – has given the UK a two-year head start on many other countries. This offers huge growth potential for the UK as the development and introduction of these technologies could result in an annual £51 billion contribution to GDP by 2030, along with 300,000 new jobs created and 25,000 accidents prevented every year.

That the UK has grasped this opportunity is testament to its ability to adapt, lead and innovate. Thanks to early investment, expertise and an inherent commitment to technological advancement, UK Automotive is well placed to be at the forefront of these breakthrough technologies to make driving smarter, safer and cleaner.

10 facts about the UK car industry

1. In the UK, a new car rolls off production lines every 16 seconds.
2. The UK exports around 80% of all the cars it produces – and exports are at record levels, with 1.2 million people across the world buying a British car in 2015.
3. Some 2.5 million engines are produced every year in the UK, with more than half exported to global markets.
4. The UK is home to 13 R&D centres and six design centres. In fact, innovation has been a major part of the sector’s growth – with £2.5 billion invested every year in R&D.
5. In terms of car production output, the UK now ranks 3rd in the EU (behind Germany and Spain); and 10th in the world3 – and the sector also has the highest level of workforce productivity in Europe.4
6. If development of connected and autonomous vehicles continues at its current rate, the industry could be worth £51 billion to companies operating here by 2030.
7. The UK has one of the EU’s fastest growing electric car markets – demand grew by more than 50% last year.
8. The UK imports 86.5% of the 2.63 million new cars sold in the country – 81.5% of them from the EU – offering consumers a huge choice.
9. The UK is home to 90% of the world’s top automotive suppliers, and a £6 billion untapped supply chain opportunity has been identified there.5
10. The UK new car market is one of the most diverse in the world, and with 2.63 million vehicles registered in 2015, it is the second biggest in Europe behind Germany.6 

The 8 cars and where they are made:

• Aston Martin DB11 (Gaydon)
• McLaren 570S (Woking)
• Honda Civic (Swindon)
• Jaguar F-Pace (Solihull)
• MINI Clubman (Oxford)
• Nissan Qashqai (Sunderland)
• Toyota Auris (Burnaston)
• Vauxhall Astra (Ellesmere Port)

Some 16 car brands are currently manufactured in the UK:

Aston Martin (Gaydon); Bentley (Crewe); Caterham (Dartford); Honda (Swindon); Infiniti (Sunderland); Jaguar Land Rover (Castle Bromwich, Solihull, Halewood); Lotus (Norwich); McLaren (Woking); MG Motors (Longbridge); Mini (Oxford); Morgan (Malvern); Nissan (Sunderland); Rolls Royce (Goodwood); Toyota (Burnaston); Vauxhall (Ellesmere Port).

1. 877,457 cars exported from UK in the year January – August 2016: SMMT Data
2. ACEA data for Q2 2016
3. OICA data for 2015
4. Automotive Council: The UK Automotive International Competitiveness Report
   November 2015
5. Automotive Council
6. ACEA data for 2015

Top 10 export destinations in the EU28:

1. Germany: 73,916
2. Belgium: 65,431
3. Italy: 64,526
4. France: 60,108
5. Portugal: 32,963
6. Spain: 31,229
7. Poland: 12,568
8. Ireland: 12,407
9. Netherlands: 11,153
10. Sweden: 10,915

British Motor Heritage celebrates 30 years of MGB bodyshell production, amongst others.

BMH BOASTS NEARLY 30 YEARS OF MGB BODYSHELL PRODUCTION

And nine years more than was achieved by MG itself!

As British Motor Heritage (BMH) completes another batch of replacement bodyshells for the venerable MGB, it is incredible to note that the company has now been manufacturing them for 28 straight years – ie nine years longer than they were made by the MG factory itself, whose production span began in 1962 and was cruelly terminated by the BLMC management in 1980.

The key point about the BMH shells are that they’re produced to original specification via the original press dies and assembly jigs, which are continually inspected and refurbished to maintain optimum performance. 

The products are therefore every bit as accurate as those constructed in Abingdon 50 years ago. Only top grade automotive steel is employed, and each shell is supplied complete with a full coat of high build primer, thereby guaranteeing excellent pre-build protection and minimal preparation prior to the application of the final paint finish.

No less than 14 variants of the MGB shell are available, which between them cover: the four-cylinder roadsters and GTs of all years, in both left and righthand drive configuration; the V8; and even cars being converted from rubber to chrome bumper specification. Prices start from £8,250.00 (including VAT) and the shells are available direct from BMH’s online retail arm (www.motoringclassics.co.uk) or via any of the company’s accredited dealers, as listed on www.bmh-ltd.com. Production is currently running at around 30-35 shells per annum.

Said BMH Managing Director John Yea: “One of many great things about the MGB is that good quality spares are so readily obtainable throughout the world, which has allowed generation after generation to enjoy this great British sports car, and we are proud to have been a major contributor to that longevity for all these years.”

BMH is the world’s largest manufacturer of replacement bodyshells and panelwork for British classic cars. It was established in 1975 and has so far built well over 6,000 replacement shells for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, original Mini and Mini Clubman, as well as many thousands of individual replacement panels for these and other models.