Motor Industry Facts 2020

Automotive is the UK’s largest exporter of goods, and it generates global trade worth £100 billion a year

The UK is Europe's second biggest car market, registering some 2.31 million new vehicles in 2019

Around 30 manufacturers build some 70 vehicle models in the UK, aided by 2,500 parts makers and some of the world's most skilled engineers

864,300 people work in UK Auto across every region, with 180,300 directly in manufacturing, earning wages 21% higher than the UK average

The UK built more than 1.3 million cars, 78,000 commercial vehicles and 2.5 million engines in 2019

UK car makers trade globally, with 54.8% of exports going to EU. A further 18.9% go to the US, 5.3% to China, 3.2% to Japan and 2.2% to Canada

Britain is home to the world’s largest and most diverse specialist car manufacturing sector, producing some of the most globally iconic brands

The UK is an innovation powerhouse, with 20 automotive R&D centres, six design centres and seven of the world’s 10 F1 teams…

… and it is the world’s number one location for mass-market potential of connected and autonomous vehicles, with a £62bn opportunity by 2030

Investment is driving demand for EVs, with more than 80 battery and plug-in hybrid electric cars on sale in 2020, accounting for one in six models

Since 1999, the industry has reduced new car CO2 by -29.3%, shrunk its annual carbon footprint by 1.3m tonnes and cut waste to landfill by -97.4%

*All figures relate to 2019, unless otherwise stated

From vehicle registrations and production, to supply chain, CO2, future mobility, jobs and global trade, SMMT’s Motor Industry Facts report provides all the latest information on the UK automotive industry.