Exclusion of Great Britain from the “Made in Europe” plan threatens the British automotive industry

Excluding the UK from the European Union’s future “Made in Europe” provisions would disadvantage British carmakers and could have negative effects, including on the European economy, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the UK automotive industry’s leading organization, warned on Tuesday.

The warning comes as the EU prepares rules that would favor products and components manufactured in the European Union. According to SMMT, the UK’s exclusion from these provisions could weaken the position of British automotive companies compared with manufacturers in member states.

In the information reported by Reuters, the organization did not provide details on the measures’ final form or the timetable for their implementation. The UK automotive industry is nevertheless highlighting that trade links between the UK and the European Union remain essential to the sector, particularly following the UK’s departure from the bloc.

SMMT argues that an approach excluding British manufacturers could affect not only companies in the UK but also the European Union’s economic interests. The warning thus opens a new dispute over the UK’s access to future European industrial policies.