The Workers Union is calling for the government to produce a package of measures to boost the UK’s car industry.
The announcement came after the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that Britons bought only 51,300 new cars in February 2021 – the worse month for sales since 1959.
The Society also said that it had slashed its growth projections for the year by 60,000 to 1.83 million vehicles, amidst fears of a prolonged slump.
Meanwhile car dealerships are braced for more hardship, as current restrictions mean they are likely to remain closed until April.
The news will only add to the frustration of business leaders, some of which believe the chancellor’s budget missed the opportunity to help the sector recover.
The Workers Union on Boosting the UK’s Car Industry
The manufacture and sale of cars is at the heart of Britain’s long history of commercial success. For years we led the way in the production of everything from luxury vehicles to family runarounds. Although many of those famous marques have passed into legend, foreign-owned car manufacturers still rely on the skill, expertise and commitment of British workers to make their vehicles.
All the more reason then to look seriously at the current issues facing the industry and offer cogent solutions. Some targeted assistance would be timely: COVID has seen sales flatline and put pressure on manufacturing plants. Last Wednesday, the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, warned that the Vauxhall Ellesmere Port works will close without an immediate cash injection from the government.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that disintegration of this kind will rip the heart out of local communities and hurl hundreds of people into an uncertain future.
We’re asking our elected representatives to provide the assurances that the auto sector needs to kickstart its recovery. With the right support, we believe car production and sales can be a key part of the post-Brexit trade strategy – so let’s get behind British manufacturing and show the world what we’re made of.
The Workers Union – fighting for social justice, fighting for you
