Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

The 107th #SMMTAnnualDinner was a chance to look back at 2024 & reflect on why the auto industry matters so much. A vital part of the economy, integral to growth, the delivery of net zero & a global trade hub. The prize on offer is great. £50bn of green growth over the next decade

🎄 🎅 From all of us at SMMT, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2025. Instead of sending traditional Christmas cards, SMMT will be donating to our charity of the year Alzheimer's Research UK https://lnkd.in/eftCqGku

If you're interested in finding out about the automotive sector and opportunities in Thailand, register to attend our webinar on 15 January where we'll be joined by the British Embassy Bangkok and YCP Solidiance Thailand to provide key information on this rapidly developing market. We'll also be launching a report for UK businesses wanting to explore this market further as well as future activities in Thailand including the UK Pavilion at Future Mobility Asia in 2025. To register please click the link below: https://lnkd.in/eJpgBshA UK in Thailand Department for Business and Trade Ben Morley Nuttapan Meethong Tad Fon Kho Itthiphon Intarapanya

🎄 🎅 From all of us at SMMT, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2025. Instead of sending traditional Christmas cards, SMMT will be donating to our charity of the year Alzheimer's Research UK https://lnkd.in/eftCqGku

As we approach the Christmas break, it was great to host SMMT members from the commercial vehicle sector at our office in London today. As has so often been the case in 2024, decarbonisation was at the top of the agenda, with several speakers and networking!

🌍 SMMT is supporting Department for Business and Trade in the upcoming future mobility trade mission to Türkiye in March where British businesses will be able to get an excellent understanding of the market and explore the opportunities through B2B meetings, pitching sessions, site visit to an OEM facility, introductions and briefings. For more information, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eG_AMGPu

A vacancy now exists for an Environmental Policy Manager in the SMMT Public Policy & Vehicle Legislation department. Find out how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/egcvidHP #automotivejobs #automotivecareer #ukautomotive

SMMT networking opportunities abound in 2025 One of the key benefits of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) membership is helping to build business partnerships through networking and we’re excited to be working on a number of new events for 2025 that will provide significant opportunities – to connect with other businesses, generate leads and grow. Following the huge success of SMMT’s Meet the Van Converter event for the last two years, we have decided to expand its reach in 2025 – with Meet the Van Accessories set to take place in Birmingham in June. It will provide opportunities for major LCV OEMs and van converters to meet with companies who install equipment on vans. So, if you have a van accessory that’s added to an LCV, from vehicle security and cameras to racking systems, and would like one-to-one meetings with OEMs and converters, please get in touch. SMMT will also put even greater focus on heavy vehicles in 2025 with a new Meet the Heavy Body Builder event in September – and no, this will not be for Arnold Schwarzenegger wannabes but rather some of the very best HGV OEMs and truck body builders. The vast majority of registered HGVs are rigids and base vehicles that have a body added – for waste, construction, delivery or fuel services – so if you’re a body builder and would like to take part, let us know. The bus and coach sector is also a crucial part of the UK automotive industry, and that’s why we’ll be launching a new event called Meet the Bus Operator, taking place in October. While the recent Zero Emission Bus Regional Area and Scottish Zero Emission Buses funding schemes have supported a large number of local transport authorities, there are still some that have not received any funding at all – and this event will provide critical opportunities for those operators. They’ll be able meet with bus manufacturers, repowering companies, finance companies and charging infrastructure companies, to discuss how they can start to introduce and advance their plans for zero emission bus rollout. Among the many other events which SMMT is planning next year is Electrified, the UK industry’s flagship conference dedicated to the net zero transition of all vehicles, which returns to London on 13 March. As with previous years, there will be a smattering of top-level commercial vehicle representatives speaking through the day, plus a panel dedicated to the heavy vehicle sector. Registrations are now open and for SMMT members there is a complimentary place – for further details visit: https://lnkd.in/eW-cXSef

Setting net zero targets shows the UK is serious about decarbonisation but mandates alone are insufficient to deliver it - they must be realistic and backed with necessary support. That is why we will continue to work with government to ensure regulation is workable, with suitably ambitious incentives in place, as well as accessible, affordable and reliable EV charging infrastructure for all vehicles. Similarly, without long-term planning to support zero emission HGV rollout, the jeopardy facing the UK’s van and car sectors could be repeated. In a month’s time we will be 10 years away from the end of sale of all new, non-zero emission trucks weighing up to 26 tonnes, which make up around seven in 10 new HGVs joining UK roads. This is the timeframe as currently exists for cars and vans, yet zero emission vehicles currently represent just 0.5% of the HGV market – a share unchanged since 2023. SMMT will continue to make the case for a modernised Plug-in Truck Grant, along with a strategy that delivers depot and public HGV-dedicated charging infrastructure because it’s essential that more operators can switch sooner rather than later. More in this weeks Update: https://lnkd.in/egwDP66z

‘Why we cannot overlook vans and trucks in race to zero’ Read our weekly Auto Update from chief exec Mike Hawes covering: - new electric van uptake falling across the year to just 5.7% charging infrastructure holding back operator confidence to invest - work with government to ensure regulation is workable, with ambitious incentives in place - modernising the Plug-in Truck Grant https://lnkd.in/eQjWdEgf