What can the UK learn from global automotive industry leaders?
From the Mini Cooper to Formula 1 dominance, the UK has a history of shaping the automotive world. But the industry has changed, and past success, though impressive, is no guarantee of future leadership. As other nations charge ahead with aggressive investment in innovation, the UK faces a stark choice: adapt and compete, or risk being left in the dust of others.
Where does the UK currently stand in the “automotive innovation race”?
Patent filings are a reliable indicator of innovation in any industry, but a recent study from R&D tax credit specialists Source Advisors presents an uncomfortable truth: the UK accounts for just 2% of global automotive patents. China, by contrast, leads with a third of all filings, while Germany and France sit at 8% and 3.42%, respectively.
Adding to the concern, foreign patent filings in the UK declined sharply between 2015 and 2019, likely influenced by Brexit uncertainty. If businesses and investors see the UK as a secondary market for innovation, that perception will be difficult to reverse. Meanwhile, other nations are laying down clear, long-term strategies to attract R&D investment. The question is, will the UK follow suit?
Germany’s engineering excellence
Germany has built its reputation on precision, quality, and continuous innovation. Audi’s famous Vorsprung Durch Technik (“Advancement through Technology”) has evolved to become much more than a marketing slogan – it’s a national mindset.
BMW alone invested €6.6 billion in R&D in 2023 and a further €4.2 billion in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, the German government actively supports this innovation through the Research Allowance Act, offering a 25% tax credit on eligible R&D expenses. But financial incentives are only part of the equation—Germany’s strength lies in long-term collaboration between industry, academia, and government. Volkswagen’s partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute on autonomous driving, for instance, is just one example of how coordinated innovation keeps the country at the forefront.
Germany’s approach is far from complicated: create a predictable, transparent system that gives businesses confidence to invest in long-term R&D. The UK, by contrast, has made its system increasingly difficult to navigate, discouraging the very investment it hopes to attract.
Japan’s incremental progress
Japan takes a slightly different approach—one built on Kaizen, or continuous improvement. Toyota exemplifies this philosophy: small, incremental adjustments over time have created some of the most reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles in the world. The Prius didn’t emerge overnight, of course; rather, it was the product of decades of refinement. Today, Toyota has sold over 20 million hybrids worldwide, proving that long-term vision pays off.
Japan’s commitment to innovation extends beyond hybrid technology. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) plays a key role in pushing hydrogen and electric vehicle adoption. Hydrogen-powered buses are already operating in major cities, demonstrating a proactive approach to future mobility.
For the UK, the lesson is clear: bold innovation is important, but so is sustained, long-term investment in emerging technologies. A clear strategy is needed that goes beyond short-term grants, seeking to develop a framework that encourages continuous improvement.
Risk and reward in the US
The US automotive industry thrives on big, calculated risks. From Henry Ford’s assembly line to Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle market, American manufacturers take big bets – which often pay off.
Tesla’s rise is particularly instructive in this regard. By pairing cutting-edge technology with mass-market appeal, the company became the world’s most valuable automaker by 2020. This success is no accident, since Tesla benefits from a business environment that rewards innovation. Similar to Germany’s approach, the US R&D tax credit system is simple and accessible, offering up to 20% relief on qualifying expenses. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley fosters cross-sector collaboration, driving breakthroughs in AI and autonomous driving.
The UK has the potential to replicate this model. Cambridge is already a thriving tech hub, but a stronger bridge between the technology and automotive sectors could accelerate UK-led innovation. The right incentives and regulatory clarity would give businesses the confidence to take risks – without them, the UK risks becoming a spectator rather than a participant.
Future-focused investing in South Korea
Over time, South Korea has positioned itself as a leader in EVs and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The government-backed Korean New Deal committed $144 billion to green mobility, with a target of 6.2 million hydrogen vehicles by 2040.
Hyundai alone has pledged $16.5 billion towards EV production, while partnerships with Samsung have enabled smart mobility advancements, such as 5G-connected vehicles with real-time traffic data. This integration of tech and automotive sectors has created a future-ready industry, proving that government support combined with private-sector ambition is a winning formula.
China’s speed-scaling
China isn’t just leading the EV race – it’s setting a pace that the rest of the world is scrambling to match. In 2023, China produced over 60% of the world’s EVs, selling 7.7 million units. This wasn’t the result of a fragmented, uncertain policy environment, but of cohesive, long-term planning.
Between 2009 and 2022, China provided $60 billion in EV subsidies, giving companies like BYD and NIO the capital to scale at an astonishing rate. Simultaneously, the government built nationwide infrastructure, ensuring that EV adoption was not just encouraged but fully supported. By 2024, China had installed 6.5 million charging stations, including 1.5 million public fast chargers – critical infrastructure that many Western countries are still struggling to implement.
China’s rapid dominance is a reminder that investment without infrastructure is meaningless. The UK can incentivise EV adoption, but without large-scale investment in charging networks and battery supply chains, progress will remain slow.
The call for change in the UK
Without urgent action, the UK risks fading into irrelevance on the global automotive stage. Foreign investment will go elsewhere, high-skilled jobs may start to disappear, and a country that once led innovation will be left to follow.
Closing the gap won’t be easy, but there are clear steps the UK can take:
- Modernising R&D tax incentives: The UK’s current system is based on what can now be considered an “aged” perception of R&D. Widening the approach, and enabling essential funding to adopters of modern tech, such as AI, would serve to improve the country’s positioning.
- Strengthen industry-academia collaboration: Innovation hubs that bring researchers and industry professionals together could accelerate progress within the country.
- Invest in future technologies: Long-term investment in electric and hydrogen vehicles, automation, and AI-driven manufacturing will be crucial for staying competitive.
- Improve intellectual property (IP) support: Simplifying the patent process and providing financial support for applications could help UK firms protect and commercialise their innovations.
The road ahead is clear. The question now, however, is whether the UK will find its footing and begin to take definitive action, or will it watch from the sidelines as others lead the charge in the future of global mobility?