Aftermarket flies flag for UK industry in Germany
As car ownership in Britain reached an all-time high of 35.7 million vehicles last year – and adding to that record an ever growing number of zero emission vehicles on our roads – new opportunities abound for aftermarket businesses to provide cutting-edge parts and servicing solutions here in the UK. But doing business overseas also promises great potential with rising demand for aftermarket products as global mobility grows. British firms are seeking to exploit these opportunities as Automechanika Frankfurt made clear this week with more than a hundred UK exhibitors and a sold-out UK Pavilion hosted by SMMT.
Our exhibitors met with hundreds of new and existing customers across the four days, including at our networking reception, and built quality business connections that will help drive their expansion around the world. Growing interest in parts and components for electrified and zero emission vehicles is no surprise given the numbers that need servicing continue to surge. Across Europe, a massively important region for the UK aftermarket sector, new car uptake rose by 4.5% in the first half of 2024 with one in seven vehicles – more than 712,000 – battery electric. With similar trends bringing new opportunities in other major – as well as emerging – economies, SMMT is supporting members with plans for an expanded international programme. We’re already looking ahead to a busy Autumn with three overseas trade missions to China, Los Angeles and Slovakia.
Closer to home, the Commercial Vehicle Show was this week pleased to announce Mike Costain as its new Event Director as part of plans to bring fresh vision to the UK’s largest trade show for the road transport sector. The appointment follows a new strategic partnership between SMMT, Nineteen Group and the RHA that will solidify the event’s reputation as the commercial vehicle sector’s one-stop location for doing business – with new and exciting opportunities to do just that coming soon – as we transition to zero emission and automated vehicles.
The UK automotive industry is investing big in decarbonisation and while bringing vehicles to market has been successful, consumers and businesses must be confident to switch. Suitable political support is needed and, for the UK bus sector, the new Buses Bill proposed this week must open the door to greener fleet investment. With more than a dozen zero emission models available, bus manufacturers, like all automotive sectors, are ready to deliver. But the key to unlocking decarbonisation, for cars, buses, trucks, vans or else, is an ambitious strategy that realises the importance of incentives and infrastructure to a world-leading decarbonisation timeline.
