The British government is betting on the future of the automotive industry with the DRIVE35 program, a large-scale initiative aimed at improving the manufacture of zero-emission vehicles and strengthening specialized employment in the country.
The DRIVE35 program: A commitment to sustainable mobility
With a total investment of 2.5 billion pounds, the United Kingdom is committed to financing the development of the automotive industry over the next ten years. DRIVE35 channels resources into large industrial projects such as battery gigafactories, and is also designed to support start-ups, prototypes and innovation centers in electric mobility.
DRIVE35 is structured on three pillars: Transformation, Scale-Up and Innovation. Under this scheme, resources will be channeled into capital investments, scalability studies and collaborative research and development projects. This structure seeks to attract private investment, modernize the automotive supply chain and consolidate the United Kingdom’s position as a center of reference in clean technologies.
With the DRIVE35 program, a massive generation of new skilled jobs is expected, both in industrial regions such as the West Midlands and in emerging clusters such as Bolton. Companies such as Astemo and Dana have confirmed investments that will add hundreds of new jobs.
The program strengthens the R&D ecosystem with the active participation of the UK Advanced Propulsion Centre and Innovate UK. More than 50 innovative projects will receive direct support for the development of batteries, power electronics, storage technologies and structural lightweighting.
The objectives of the program are to improve the resilience of the local supply chain by fostering productive capabilities on British soil. The calls for proposals opened under the Transformation pillar seek to ensure that critical components for electric mobility are produced within the United Kingdom, generating technological independence from external markets.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds mentioned that DRIVE35 is a central part of the Plan for Change and the Modern Industrial Strategy. This comprehensive vision includes negotiating trade agreements such as the one signed with the United States, improving industrial energy costs and updating the zero-emission vehicle mandate, measures that complement direct investment with long-term structural reforms.
The United Kingdom was the largest electric vehicle market in Europe in 2024, with more than 382,000 units sold. This position enhances the opportunity DRIVE35 represents to consolidate the country’s leadership in sustainable mobility. With more than 82,000 charging points in operation and a new plug every half hour, the infrastructure is also accompanying this industrial momentum.
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Source and photo: GOV.UK
