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Car industry and government to invest £1bn in research on low-carbon engines Car industry and government to invest £1bn in research on low-carbon engines
(2 months later)
Carmakers have joined forces with the government to invest £1bn in a research centre to develop low-carbon technologies to succeed diesel and petrol engines.Carmakers have joined forces with the government to invest £1bn in a research centre to develop low-carbon technologies to succeed diesel and petrol engines.
Vince Cable, the business secretary, announced that his department would commit around £500m over the next decade to the proposed research facility, the Advanced Propulsion Centre.Vince Cable, the business secretary, announced that his department would commit around £500m over the next decade to the proposed research facility, the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
While details of the centre remain unclear, manufacturers including Ford, Nissan and BMW have agreed to "actively explore potential for investment in the centre" – an agreement in principle to match the government funding.While details of the centre remain unclear, manufacturers including Ford, Nissan and BMW have agreed to "actively explore potential for investment in the centre" – an agreement in principle to match the government funding.
An initial venture will be a £10m competition for businesses to come up with innovative, collaborative low-carbon vehicles, with winners potentially fast-tracked for commercial development through the centre.An initial venture will be a £10m competition for businesses to come up with innovative, collaborative low-carbon vehicles, with winners potentially fast-tracked for commercial development through the centre.
The government claimed the commitment would secure 30,000 jobs currently linked to producing engines. The industry expects traditional petrol or diesel engines to have disappeared by 2040.The government claimed the commitment would secure 30,000 jobs currently linked to producing engines. The industry expects traditional petrol or diesel engines to have disappeared by 2040.
The business secretary joined car industry representatives to unveil the proposed research centre as part of a long-term industrial strategy, called Driving Success, which highlighted a shortage of engineers and other skilled workers that would need to be addressed if the UK industry was to continue growing.The business secretary joined car industry representatives to unveil the proposed research centre as part of a long-term industrial strategy, called Driving Success, which highlighted a shortage of engineers and other skilled workers that would need to be addressed if the UK industry was to continue growing.
It also identified the potential to fill some gaps in the supply chain, with only a third of parts for cars produced in the UK being made domestically.It also identified the potential to fill some gaps in the supply chain, with only a third of parts for cars produced in the UK being made domestically.
Cable said: "The UK automotive sector has been incredibly successful in recent times, with billions of pounds of investment and new jobs. This has been achieved by government and industry working together.Cable said: "The UK automotive sector has been incredibly successful in recent times, with billions of pounds of investment and new jobs. This has been achieved by government and industry working together.
"With the next generation of vehicles set to be powered by radically different technologies we need to maintain this momentum and act now. Our industrial strategy will ensure we keep on working together to make our automotive industry a world leader.""With the next generation of vehicles set to be powered by radically different technologies we need to maintain this momentum and act now. Our industrial strategy will ensure we keep on working together to make our automotive industry a world leader."
Cable's co-chair of the Automotive Council, the former Ford development supremo Prof Richard Parry-Jones, said that agreeing the new industrial strategy was "critical to sustaining and growing a thriving UK automotive sector in a highly competitive global industry".Cable's co-chair of the Automotive Council, the former Ford development supremo Prof Richard Parry-Jones, said that agreeing the new industrial strategy was "critical to sustaining and growing a thriving UK automotive sector in a highly competitive global industry".
He said: "Businesses prefer consistency, stability and a clear path to the future in order to make investment plans."He said: "Businesses prefer consistency, stability and a clear path to the future in order to make investment plans."
Cable last month announced £3m in funding for a new Automotive Investment Organisation, which seeks to persuade foreign firms to bring their operations to Britain.Cable last month announced £3m in funding for a new Automotive Investment Organisation, which seeks to persuade foreign firms to bring their operations to Britain.
Around £6bn has been invested in the UK car industry over the last two years, with vehicle production rising to 1.58m in 2012 against a background of slipping European figures. Although Ford is shutting plants here – at Southampton and Dagenham – the industry said it expected to recruit more than 7,600 apprentices and 1,700 graduates in the next five years.Around £6bn has been invested in the UK car industry over the last two years, with vehicle production rising to 1.58m in 2012 against a background of slipping European figures. Although Ford is shutting plants here – at Southampton and Dagenham – the industry said it expected to recruit more than 7,600 apprentices and 1,700 graduates in the next five years.
Mike Baunton, the interim chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: "The motor industry is a major contributor to the UK economy and has been increasing that contribution in a challenging economic environment.Mike Baunton, the interim chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: "The motor industry is a major contributor to the UK economy and has been increasing that contribution in a challenging economic environment.
"I am confident that the strategy and the joint investment by government and the industry will make the UK an even more attractive place to design, build and sell automotive components and vehicles.""I am confident that the strategy and the joint investment by government and the industry will make the UK an even more attractive place to design, build and sell automotive components and vehicles."
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