SMMT International Update October 2025

Significant milestone for UK trade Frances Woodman, International Manager, shares about upcoming activities for the October edition of the SMMT International Update. Last month, SMMT’s annual Trade Report marked a significant milestone – five years since Brexit – with the UK automotive sector having demonstrated remarkable resilience, boasting £115 billion in trade in 2024. The latest updates… Continue reading SMMT International Update October 2025

Protecting UK-EU trade is a pressing priority

Five years since the UK-EU TCA was signed, the UK automotive sector stands at a pivotal juncture. While Brexit has fundamentally reshaped the trading landscape, subsequent headwinds – geopolitical uncertainty, rising protectionism, tariff barriers and intensified competition in the push to decarbonise – pile further pressure on our global competitiveness. SMMT’s latest Trade Report, published… Continue reading Protecting UK-EU trade is a pressing priority

Brits oppose Tesla’s plan to sell energy in UK because Elon Musk is so distasteful

Thousands of Britons have voiced opposition to a request by Tesla to supply electricity to British homes. And what’s the sole reason for this opposition? It’s because of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Last month, Tesla applied for a license to supply electricity to British homes. The application was sent to Ofgem, UK’s government energy regulator.… Continue reading Brits oppose Tesla’s plan to sell energy in UK because Elon Musk is so distasteful

UK PHEVs set to avoid Europe-wide CO2 rises in bid to keep appeal

Plug-in hybrids sold in the UK could avoid planned changes across Europe to how CO2 figures are calculated in a bid to keep their appeal to fleet buyers. Under the changes, the European Commission’s latest Euro 6e-bis emission standard will assume a lower share of a PHEV’s electric-only mileage, resulting in a more representative (and higher) CO2 figure.  This would result… Continue reading UK PHEVs set to avoid Europe-wide CO2 rises in bid to keep appeal

German FAZ: Long dry spell for family businesses in the US trade009733

There was no happy ending in Scotland either. Only persistence helps in trade policy-and a deepening of the EU internal market. The winning warning of Volkswagen last week was a signal. The hope of getting a resilient agreement in the trade dispute with the United States seemed to disappear. At most, deals such as US… Continue reading German FAZ: Long dry spell for family businesses in the US trade009733

Full Analysis of India-UK Free Trade Agreement

The India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on July 24, 2025, represents an important moment in bilateral economic relations between the world’s fifth and sixth-largest economies. The agreement, formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aims to double bilateral trade from the current $60 billion to over $100 billion by 2030,… Continue reading Full Analysis of India-UK Free Trade Agreement

German FAZ: EU wants to be a stock market supervision from Hessen to Paris 009658

It was a good eight years ago that the great quake was prevented. On March 29, 2017, the EU Commission prohibited the merger of the German Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Before that, it had been struggled for months whether such a merger would be correct and sensible – on the other hand,… Continue reading German FAZ: EU wants to be a stock market supervision from Hessen to Paris 009658

German FAZ: EU wants to put the stock market supervision from Hessen to Paris 009641

It was a good eight years ago that the great quake was prevented. On March 29, 2017, the EU Commission prohibited the merger of the German Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Before that, it had been struggled for months whether such a merger would be correct and sensible – on the other hand,… Continue reading German FAZ: EU wants to put the stock market supervision from Hessen to Paris 009641

Toyota to move some GR Corolla production to Britain, sources say

Toyota is moving some production of its GR Corolla sports car to Britain and will spend around $56 million on a dedicated line there to build exports for North America, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. By shifting some production from Japan, Toyota aims to use excess capacity in Britain to help… Continue reading Toyota to move some GR Corolla production to Britain, sources say

Trump keeps 10% tariffs on UK but cuts taxes on British autos, steel and aluminum with trade deal

“Right now, you can’t get any higher,” Trump said. “It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down.” President Donald Trump agreed Thursday to cut tariffs on U.K. autos, steel and aluminum in a planned trade deal but played down the possibility of other nations getting similarly favorable terms on his import taxes, which are… Continue reading Trump keeps 10% tariffs on UK but cuts taxes on British autos, steel and aluminum with trade deal