Automotive sector: Going full throttle

By Ged Henderson

30 Jan 2023

Speedometer

You won’t find January 14, 1969, in any history books but the importance of the date to the development of the automotive industry cannot be underestimated.

This was the day that Carr Reinforcements (CR), a little-known textile company that is today based in east Lancashire, successfully wove the first ever carbon fibre fabric in the world – a fact proudly proclaimed on its website today.

That technological breakthrough helped launch a new composite industry which has proved game-changing for motor manufacturing across the globe, as well as the aerospace sector. Most of the structural weight of an F1 is carbon fibre.

Today the business, which operates from a mill in Worsthorne near Burnley, remains a key player in its specialist field. Part of a worldwide supply chain, director Eric Taylor says around 80 per cent of its production is for export.

China is a major destination, with many of the automotive components created using its high-performance products ending up back in Europe.

The operation, which has a 10-strong workforce and a turnover of around £1.5m, can make around 200 different patterns of weave and supply a wide range of colours to its customers. Eric says: “Around 30 per cent of our output goes into the automotive industry.”

CR is just one example of the innovation and expertise that has driven Lancashire’s automotive sector and which continues today as businesses based in the county look to move into an even higher gear.

The West Midlands may be known as the centre of Britain’s motor industry but the North West is a major player and Lancashire companies are set to play a big role in its future.

In fact, figures show that the North West is now the UK’s second biggest car-making region, employing 21,500 workers and generating £1.9bn for the economy.

More statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) highlight that since 2011, the North West has received more investment in electric vehicle (EV) technology than the West Midlands - £2.8bn compared to £2.1bn.

There was more good news for the North West at the end of last year. Building on its commitment to grow an all-electric vehicle range, automotive giant Ford announced it had invested a further £125m in its Halewood facility on Merseyside – increasing capacity by 70 per cent. It takes the total investment in enabling Halewood’s transformation to an EV component plant to almost £380m.

Kieran Cahill, Ford’s European industrial operations vice-president, says: “Halewood is playing a critical part as our first in-house investment in EV component manufacturing in Europe.”

A third of the membership of the Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA), which is headquartered in South Ribble, is made up of businesses based in Lancashire, with many of them looking to plug into the electric revolution.

These 33 companies are involved in all aspects of motor manufacturing, from specialist  providers like CR to commercial vehicle powerhouse Leyland Trucks. NAA chief executive Paul Jones is bullish for the future of the sector in Lancashire and the North West and sees the acceleration towards EV and the turmoil in supply chains caused by the pandemic as strong areas of opportunity.

Describing the case for more local sourcing as “compelling” he says: “We’ve seen a growing focus on supply chain security and a lot of impressive work in the development of the future ‘green’ supply chains we will need in areas such as battery technology and hydrogen power. Lancashire has some great opportunities ahead of it.”

One company looking to benefit from the transition to battery-electric is Emerson and Renwick (E+R), based in Accrington.

The manufacturing equipment specialist is part of a consortium of seven UK-based organisations that have come together to develop world-leading prototype solid-state battery technology, targeting the automotive sector.

With its engineering experience gained over more than a century E+R has also made a significant investment in a technology centre in Burnley, creating a demonstration and development facility.

The £20m Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West on the Salmesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone is also working to support and strengthen the region’s automotive supply chain. Paul Jones points to it as another winning card for the sector in Lancashire.

Its R&D is carried out with a focus on digital and additive manufacturing, vehicle electrification and lightweighting, batteries and automation, and low carbon technologies.

The centre is also the primary site for the 5G ‘Factory of the Future’ project, a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funded programme, which is driving the adoption of 5G technologies in manufacturing.

Nationally, after the rocky ride of Brexit and the pandemic, industry watchers believe there could be some positive news ahead for the sector.

The SMMT is anticipating that easing semiconductor shortages are expected to help factory output rise by 15 per cent in the next 12 months to 984,000 units, an uplift worth some £3.9bn. By 2025, production volumes are projected surpass a million vehicles.

To harness this growth, it is calling for a targeted government action plan to safeguard the future of advanced automotive manufacturing and the thousands of jobs it sustains.

The SMMT says such a strategy should help attract investment in vehicle, battery and fuel cell production; support electrified supply chains, skills and innovation; and deliver the incentives and infrastructure critically needed to drive a healthy zero emission vehicle market.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, says: “In the most testing of times, growth finally beckons for the UK automotive industry, and as recession looms, that’s growth that should be nurtured.

“We need a framework that enhances competitiveness, enables investment and promotes UK automotive’s strengths: innovation, productivity and a highly skilled workforce.

“We therefore need swift and decisive, action that addresses the immediate challenges and gives us a fighting chance of winning the global competition. That window of opportunity is open but is closing fast.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

2

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

3

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

4

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing

19 May 2025

5

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025 Mark Long

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025

19 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin