Upcoming Trade Shows in UK for Automobile - Automotive Industry

The United Kingdom's (UK) automotive industry has a storied past that reaches back to the mid-20th century when it ranked as the world's second-largest automobile manufacturing hub. While the landscape has evolved, and production now centers on British prestige brands and commercial vehicles, the industry remains a cornerstone of the UK economy. In 2021, the automotive sector contributed a substantial £14.1 billion to the UK's economy and employed over 782,000 people with the manufacturing segment alone accounting for approximately 182,000 jobs. Despite the industry's shifting dynamics, it continues to be a vital source of income and livelihood. The path to today has been marked by several challenges. Passenger car production faced speed bumps between 2003 and 2008 as rail transport began to shoulder some of the passenger transport demand. The global financial crisis of 2008 cast a long shadow with car production plummeting by over 30 percent in the following year. After emerging from the recession, the industry navigated new obstacles, including declining global vehicle demand, Brexit uncertainties and the Dieselgate scandal. Between 2016 and 2019, these factors contributed to a period of relative inactivity, costing about 1000 automotive manufacturing jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic proved especially challenging. In 2020, car output dropped nearly 30% compared to the previous year, reaching the lowest levels since 1984. The repercussions were profound with around 10,000 jobs lost in the UK automotive sector during the year. The pandemic also triggered a global chip shortage and supply chain disruptions, amplifying the industry's many challenges. In 2021, these challenges persisted as production output declined by approximately 7% year-on-year. The UK remains a global automotive exporter with a significant share of its production destined for international markets. In 2021, over 706,000 passenger cars and 38,000 commercial vehicles rolled out of British factories bound for destinations worldwide.