Swedish government representatives have arrived in the UK to evaluate the British automotive industry support model that has seen the sector produce net exports for the first time in a generation.
Speaking to just-auto today (21 March) on the sidelines of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Open Forum near the UK Midlands city of Coventry, Scandinavian component manufacturer body, FKG, confirmed Stockholm’s visit to London.
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“Our Swedish government is here in the UK taking to Michael Gallon’s [UK Business and Enterprise Minister] department,” FKG managing director, Fredrik Sidahl, told just-auto at the event bringing suppliers, OEMs and banks together.
“It is because they would like to understand the Automotive Council and the effect it is having in the UK for the last 15 years.
“It is a lot of measures – everything from having a finance system that works to the SME companies [to] bridging financing – it is really working. We said why don’t you [Swedish government] go over to the UK and learn.”
FKG chairman, Per-Ewe Wendel, also at the Open Forum, emphasised how the UK had “a total grip on stakeholders” in the automotive sector. “That you don’t see in Sweden,” he said.
Sidahl acknowledged there was significant complexity to some of the Automotive Council’s work but insisted it was “deep and wide” and nonetheless maintaining: “You have to start somewhere in a small production country like Sweden,” highlighting the knock-on expertise inherent in vehicle manufacturing.
“You [UK] have an understanding of reindustrilisation,” said Sidahl. “Let the government know the automotive industry can work and for the whole of industry. If you don’t have an automotive industry, I am sure you don’t have dishwashers.
The Swedish supplier body managing director also noted legislation was being mooted at a national and European level to address the vexatious question of payment terms – an issue of critical importance to component manufacturers.
“The European law is looking to reinforce cash flow for SMEs in particular,” he said.
