Labour government called on to put automotive at top of to-do list

UK car industry bosses have called on new Prime Minister Keir Starmer to put motoring issues at the top of his to-do list after his Labour party triumphed to a landslide election victory. Labour made several automotive pledges as part of its election campaign (see in full below), from promising to reinstate the 2030 ban on the sale of new pure-petrol and -diesel cars, to tackling insurance premiums, introducing a battery health standard for used EVs, and aiding the construction of new gigafactories. Starmer also pledged to increase the roll out of EV chargers and mend Britain’s crumbling roads. “Rebuilding Britain means modernising our transport infrastructure”, he said in the party’s manifesto. Labour’s victory has been applauded by both BMW and Vauxhall owner Stellantis, the UK’s two biggest manufacturers with major factories in Oxford, Sunderland and Ellesmere Port. Stellantis boss Maria Grazia Davino said: “We congratulate Keir Starmer on his party’s election win. We now look forward to working with the new government on its industrial strategy to improve UK competitiveness, manufacturing, electrification and the ultimate aim of net zero.” A statement from BMW followed a similar theme. It said: “We look forward to engaging with the new government on the important issues facing the automotive industry.” Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders boss Mike Hawes was another to voice hope at Labour’s election win, given “the new government’s commitment to an industrial strategy and its already published Automotive Sector Plan.” He said this “can boost manufacturing competitiveness, enhance trade relations and support consumers”. He added: “The industry is fundamental to the achievement of net zero which, with the right conditions, will deliver the growth the economy needs. “We now look to continue our productive partnership with government to ensure the long-term success of the sector and all those who depend on it for their mobility, services and livelihoods.” Fellow automotive lobby group the Institute of the Motor Industry, which has campaigned heavily on recruitment struggles within the sector, also welcomed the new government. It said in a statement: “The Labour party clearly identified its understanding of the importance of skills for UK infrastructure in its manifesto; it was also the only party with a dedicated automotive policy which recognised the contribution the motor industry will play in achieving net zero goals. “With a stated plan to allocate £1.5 billion to new gigafactories, as well as restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines, clearly there is no time to lose in addressing the current challenges around further education and apprenticeships, as well as uplifting skills in the sector.” What were Labour’s automotive manifesto pledges? Reinstate the 2030 ICE ban Firstly, Starmer pledged to reintroduce the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. Labour believes bringing it back to the original date would provide “certainty” for car manufacturers. His pledge follows the Conservatives’ decision to last year push back the date to 2035. Help EV buyers Electric car buyers are also to be supported, Labour says, by “accelerating the roll-out of charge points”. As of May 2024, the UK had 12,249 rapid or ultra-rapid chargers at 5336 sites, according to EV firm Zap-Map. With an eye on the second-hand EV market, Labour will also introduce a battery health standard, making the information clearer and more understandable. No buying incentives have been promised. Creating a modern transport system Elsewhere, the party has promised major upgrades of Britain’s roads. “Rebuilding Britain means modernising our transport infrastructure”, states the Labour manifesto, adding that the network has been “plagued by long-promised projects that are never delivered”. It says it will maintain and renew the road network, with a keen eye on potholes – RAC data suggests there are more than one million across the UK. This will be paid for by deferring the Arundel bypass on the A27, which is deemed “poor value for money”. Gigafactories Labour says it will update national planning policy to make it easier to build EV battery factories, pledging to pump £1.5 billion into new gigafactories projects “so our automotive industry leads the world”. Some £500 million will also be spent on green hydrogen manufacturing projects, which could indirectly help the automotive industry, especially schemes looking at the future of HGV powertrains. It has also promised to pump money into the country’s R&D sector, which includes automotive. Lower insurance costs The party will also tackle “soaring” car insurance costs, it says, without expanding on how it would do this. Previously, the Association of British Insurers blamed swingeing increases on a number of factors including the costs of parts, repairs, replacement cars, and a rise in personal injury claims.