UK probably needs large new factory to meet target of 1.3m cars a year, say industry boss

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Alex DanielJanuary 29, 2026 at 01:01 AM
UK probably needs large new factory to meet target of 1.3m cars a year, say industry boss

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

To meet Labour's target of 1.3 million cars produced annually by 2035, the UK likely needs a new, large factory, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). UK car production fell significantly in 2025, reaching its lowest point since 1952, excluding Covid-19 lockdowns. The SMMT suggests Chinese manufacturers are the most likely candidates to build new electric vehicle assembly plants in the UK. Keir Starmer's trade mission to China, including automotive executives, aims to encourage this investment. While 2025 was a challenging year for the UK car industry, there are hopes for recovery driven by electric vehicle production, with Chinese brands increasing their market share in the UK.

Keywords

uk car production 90% new factory 80% electric vehicles 70% chinese manufacturers 70% inward investment 60% keir starmer 50% smmt 50% trade talks 50% market share 40%

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Neutral
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Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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