STORY
The Government has announced nearly £130 million of public and private investment for zero-emission vehicle technology, including funding for automotive research and connected transport projects. Almost £65 million will come from public funds, with the remainder being provided by industry partners.
Nearly £50 million of Government funding has been awarded to automotive companies and research partners to develop and scale technologies intended for zero-emission vehicles. A further £17 million is being provided for nine connected and automated mobility projects covering areas including sensors, brake-by-wire systems and artificial intelligence simulation.
Industry minister Blair McDougall said the Government wanted the next generation of vehicles to be designed and manufactured in Britain. The funding forms part of wider efforts to support the automotive sector as manufacturers prepare for the transition away from new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel, sales of which are due to end in 2030, with all new cars required to be zero-emission by 2035.