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

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

2

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day Dave Walker with Richard Slater at Lancashire Business Day

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day

08 Oct 2025

3

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors Craig Hemmings

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors

08 Oct 2025

4

Chamber calls for three council county Lancashire County Council County Hall

Chamber calls for three council county

08 Oct 2025

5

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance Victorian Plumbing Leyland

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance

07 Oct 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
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

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

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 LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin