Press release

Institution responds to 5.8% rise in UK car manufacturing

January 19, 2012

Philippa Oldham, Head of Transport and Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in response to the 5.8% rise in UK car manufacturing in 2011:

“Car manufacturing is one of the few bright spots in the UK economy at the moment and these are very encouraging figures. It is heartening to see that international car manufactures such as Nissan, Vauxhall and Honda see the UK as the place to invest because of the quality of engineering design and manufacture we provide within this area.
“In recent years we have seen the dangers of having an economy that relies too heavily on financial and service industries. Boosting the UK’s manufacturing sector, which currently represents just 11% of the UK economy, would help create economic stability. In order to see other UK manufacturing industries grow like this, Government needs to provide clear support by focusing on education & skills, taxation & incentives, research & development, key infrastructure development, future economic prospects and the green economy.”