Motor industry gathers as SMMT launches supplier finder to boost new business
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today brought together vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and business leaders to its Regional Forum in Luton to assess current automotive challenges and opportunities for sectoral growth in the area. SMMT also launched its revamped Automotive Supplier Finder (ASF), a free online platform to connect companies and help develop new business by matching automotive buyers with suppliers.
The Supplier Finder is the UK’s largest database of its kind, with almost 10,000 companies currently listed. Listing is free to all automotive firms operating in the UK and now features new Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Quotation (RFQ) capabilities not found on competing services. ASF can be configured for the exact requirements of the user thanks to its advanced filtering function. For example, if a company is looking for a UK-based telematics supplier with ISO 14001 accreditation, ASF has the capability to provide details of all the firms that fit the bill.
For the first time, ASF has the ability to search for companies operating in the connected, autonomous and electrified sectors connecting a wide array of businesses, including those only recently established in this fast growing segment. From Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, original equipment manufacturers and raw materials producers, to legal experts, software providers, recruitment companies and logistics firms, the entire automotive ecosystem is now represented on the platform.
ASF is specifically designed to link automotive buyers with suppliers based on key buying criteria, including product, location, quality standards or capabilities from more than 6,000 different product categories. This free to use service is open to all relevant companies worldwide, however SMMT members benefit from an enhanced company profile with greater visibility, additional areas and priority listing in search returns.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “Growing the UK automotive supply chain is a key aim of SMMT, especially at a time when Brexit and the shift to connected and autonomous vehicles are significant challenges to the sector. The new and improved Automotive Supplier Finder is an invaluable resource, helping to boost new business opportunities and encouraging collaboration within the industry.”
Regional Forums are part of SMMT’s efforts to provide nationwide support and advice for members, with today’s event welcoming a range of speakers, including Vauxhall Motors Ltd and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP). While the region has a rich automotive history, with Vauxhall having opened its first factory in Luton in 1905 and still producing commercial vehicles with cutting-edge technology, the area is also packed with companies researching and developing the next mobility solutions. The Connected Places Catapult in Milton Keynes, Millbrook Proving Ground, Silverstone Technology Cluster, and brands including BP Chargemaster, Mahle Powertrain and Volvo are all based in the vicinity, helping to sustain thousands of highly skilled jobs.
More than 200 SMMT members and delegates are expected to attend the latest SMMT Regional Forum, held at Luton Hoo Hotel, with representatives from brands including Eurotunnel, IBM, Toyota Motor Europe, Vauxhall Motors LTD and Volkswagen Group UK. Speakers include Mike Hawes, chief executive, SMMT; Hilary Chipping, chief executive, SEMLEP; Craig Jones, plant launch manager, Vauxhall Motors Ltd; David Henig, director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE); and Sarah Noble, director, and Aleks Racic, associate director, Deloitte.
