The government is set to invest £65m into firms that produce zero-emission vehicles. This funding includes £50m specifically for car firms and research partners, aimed at increasing the scale of electric vehicle production.
The Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade stated that this investment is expected to support 1,800 jobs. The automotive industry is also anticipated to match this government investment.
This funding forms part of the government’s broader £4bn Drive35 programme, an initiative designed to accelerate the electrification of the car industry. Industry minister Blair McDougall commented that the investment will "secure skilled jobs, strengthen our manufacturing heartlands and help drive the reindustrialisation of Britain."
Recipients of the funding include a consortium led by Bentley and Nissan, with Nissan focusing on self-driving cars. The investment comes amid ongoing discussions and industry backlash regarding the government's electric vehicle mandate, which aims to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.