NFDA calls for skills and EV focus in Budget

The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) has urged the government to address skills and electric vehicle uptake in its upcoming Spring Budget.

In a letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the NFDA has called on the government to prioritise investment and growth in the UK automotive sector.

That includes addressing the current skills shortage and reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, as well as supporting the shift towards EVs through price incentives and improving electric charging infrastructure.

Sue Robinson, chief executive, said: “The upcoming Spring Budget in March looks likely to be the last major fiscal event before a general election is called this year. This provides a vital opportunity for the government to listen to the concerns of automotive retailers and outline its vision for the future of the sector.

“NFDA’s budget proposal has conveyed various issues which are currently affecting the automotive retail sector and the wider automotive industry including issues which were recently flagged by dealerships in our 2024 outlook survey.

“As the automotive sector continues to navigate its way through increasingly challenging times, the government needs to ensure that facilitating investment in the economy and the automotive retail sector are a top priority. Likewise, the automotive sector has invested heavily during the transition to electric.

“NFDA urges HM Treasury to support the automotive sector’s efforts to achieving the government’s net-zero targets which the UK will need to unlock decades of growth in cleaner road transport.”