LONDON -- Britain risks falling behind in the race to build electric vehicles if it does not respond urgently to large-scale U.S. and European Union initiatives to support industry, the UK's auto industry body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said in a statement.
"Britain's ability to compete as an EV production leader is at risk unless government responds urgently to increasingly fierce international competition," the SMMT said on Monday.
The U.S. last year announced $369 billion in subsidies to support clean technologies and electric vehicles under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
That was followed up by the Green Deal Industrial Plan proposed by the EU last month on concern the U.S. law could put companies based in Europe at a disadvantage.
In a report titled "Race to Zero: Powering Up Britain's EV Supply Chain," the SMMT lays out a series of initiatives that it sees as necessary to help Britain's automakers compete.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last week he was talking to the U.S. and European Union about the IRA amid concern it could make European markets uncompetitive.
Concerns have been rising within Britain's car industry over the lack of major EV battery plants, without which many fear vehicle production will shift to the EU.
So far, only Nissan has announced it will build a battery plant in Sunderland, while dozens of plants have been announced, or are under construction in Europe.
Last month Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said Britain's car industry would be "in trouble" without UK-made batteries.
BYD, the Chinese EV maker, has ruled out building its first European car factory in the UK because of Brexit, the Financial Times reported on Monday. The automaker has set out ambitious plans to dominate the region’s EV market this decade, aiming to be among the top three EV brands in Europe accounting for one in 10 EVs sold by 2030 .
The SMMT's recommendations for making Britain more competitive include providing more generous incentives and subsidies for battery-related projects, cutting energy costs, streamlining planning approval for battery production, and expanding the country's free-trade agreements.
"With other parts of the world turbocharging their support for the zero-emission vehicle transition, we need to step up to compete in this global race," SMMT CEO Mike Hawes said in the statement.
