Study highlights £1.3bn auto ‘hotspot’ in south-east

14 October 2025  

New analysis has revealed the importance of automotive manufacturing to the south-east of the UK, with firms in the region delivering an annual economic contribution of £1.3 billion.

SMMT’s analysis, published yesterday, shows the auto sector supports the livelihoods of more than 17,000 – equivalent to one in 11 of all UK automotive manufacturing jobs.

Since 2015, £1.4 billion has been invested in the “production hotspot” region, where 750 manufacturing companies are now based, SMMT said.

The data was released as some of the UK’s most advanced automotive manufacturers and suppliers from across the south-east are set to meet in Thame, Oxfordshire on October 15 for the SMMT’s Regional Forum.

Opportunities

Tackling trade tensions, dealing with the slower than expected transition to electrification and seizing opportunities to grow will be topics for discussion at the meeting.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “We are delighted to bring the SMMT Regional Forum to the south-east this year, an area with strong automotive ties, a highly skilled and productive workforce, and a large economic contribution.”

Hawes said the event’s focus on product innovation and how it will reshape the industry could not be better timed as global investors decide where to design, engineer and build the next generation of cutting-edge electric, connected and automated vehicles.

The SMMT represents more than 800 automotive companies in the UK across production, sales, supply chain and the aftermarket.