Big Ben and House of Parliament at Night

    • How decarbonising road transport can be a success story for UK industry

    This briefing sets out Transport and Environment UK’s thinking on how the UK should approach climate and industrial policies that can together deliver strong environmental, social and economic goals.

    Download file - form

    Please complete the this form to have access to file, once submitted the file will load on the browser window.

    The automotive industry – whether in the UK, EU or USA –  faces the biggest challenge in its 120 year history with the switch to electric cars and the threat of increased competition from China. Public policy responses to this vary. The European Union and its member states are ramping up support for car, van and truck makers and their supply chains to meet these challenges. The USA offers massive subsidies through its Inflation Reduction Act. In the UK by contrast, even having an industrial strategy is contested and UK car makers struggle with post-Brexit realities.
    This briefing sets out Transport and Environment UK’s thinking on how the UK should approach climate and industrial policies that can together deliver strong environmental, social and economic goals. It sets out why an industrial policy is important for the UK’s climate ambitions (and why industry needs an effective climate policy); the specific circumstances in the UK for the motor industry and climate change; and recommendations on what industrial policy in the transition to net zero should look like.
    T&E UK recommends six areas where the UK Government can act. Government policy needs to:
    1. Provide policy certainty to support investment plans
    2. Prioritise support for foundational sectors (including renewable energy and battery production and supply chain) on which a successful future facing economy depends
    3. Have a close strategic relationship with the EU and others to support battery manufacturing and supply chains
    4. Ensure skills policy and regional policy are addressed
    5. Work with private finance to unlock greater levels of investment and scale up innovation
    6. Ensure that the planning and permitting system and relevant agencies have the capacity and capability to deliver at pace