LONDON: Investment in the UK’s automotive industry fell in 2016 after several years of strong growth, according to the head of the industry’s trade body. Some investment decisions are also on hold until there is clarity about the UK’s post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, was giving evidence to the Treasury Committee on Tuesday. He told MPs that investment appears to be falling back. “We are putting together the data as best we can,” he said. “But I sense certainly that the amount invested over the last 12 months will not be as high as the preceding one, two, three years.” He said that despite the decision taken by Nissan in the autumn to build two new models at its Sunderland plant, other companies appeared to be holding off key decisions. “Certainly, I believe that companies are at least sitting on their hands… until there is a bit more clarity,” he said.
UK car production has grown sharply in recent years on the back of record investment. Investment in research and development hit £2.5bn in 2015. That was up 8.7% on the £2.3bn invested the year before, according to the SMMT’s 2016 Automotive Sustainability Report. Last year several firms set out investment intentions that will secure and create jobs in the years to come.
