SMMT hosts open forum at Automechanika Birmingham

The SMMT is hosting an open forum at Automechanika Birmingham today on how electrification is creating fresh opportunities in the supply chain.

Vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and innovators will come together to discuss key issues, in particular battery design and development.

Delegates will hear from experts at Bosch, the Faraday Institution, Unipart, Yasa Motors and Autocraft Solutions, while McLaren Automotive will deliver the keynote address. The manufacturer’s Commercial Director (Supply Chain), Daniel Scaglione, will speak about the company’s Track25 business and sourcing strategy and its investment in advanced materials to reduce overall vehicle weight that goes hand-in-hand with its move to 100% hybrid sportscars and supercars by 2024. He will also share insight on how suppliers can partner with the firm through its next phase of growth.

The UK is well placed to be a global leader in the development of the next generation of battery technology, thanks to close collaboration between industry, adjacent sectors and government. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, recently announced a £28m investment to support the development of battery technology at the new Coventry Battery Industrialisation Centre, targeted as a centre of excellence and creating highly skilled jobs and delivering practical training to workers.

The commitment is part of the government’s Industrial Strategy’s Challenge Fund and comes on top of an initial £80m investment in the centre. With propulsion systems representing up to 50% of the value of a vehicle, there is a considerable prize for the UK, if it is able to position itself at the forefront of developing the next generation of low carbon, including electric, powertrains.

With the shift to vehicle electrification well underway globally, there is a requirement for significant battery manufacturing capacity to support future electric vehicle (EV) production. Brexit notwithstanding, a forecast for EV production in the UK alone provides enough demand for approximately eight battery giga-factories by 2040. 

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, ‘The UK already makes some of the best-selling electric cars and taxis on the market and industry is leading the charge to vehicle electrification, investing in new technology to create ever more advanced and efficient models. The future opportunities for suppliers and manufacturers from this seismic shift are dramatic, and the UK is well placed to benefit so long as the right economic and political conditions exist. Events such as SMMT Open Forum are also essential to help create new opportunities for growth.’