KPMG says car industry set to flourish in 2014 aided by focus on low carbon innovation
Thu 12 December 2013
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The latest KPMG global auto survey forecasts that the UK car industry will flourish in 2014 helped by the UK Government's focus on low carbon innovation. It says that the prospects for electric and range-extended battery powered cars will brighten in the new year.
John Leech, KPMG Head of Automotive, looking ahead to 2014, says that the industry is going in the right direction, with car production and sales in both the UK and EU set to increase.
Leech said: “2013 has been fantastic for the automotive industry, the latest UK car manufacturing figures highlighted that 1,286,287 cars were produced in the first 11 months, a rise of 5.4 percent [1] with sales also up by 9.9 percent. The current sales and production run rates are back at pre-recession levels last seen in 2008."
He continued: “According to KPMG International's 14th Global Automotive Executive Survey, consumer enthusiasm for electric cars in 2013 failed to ignite but the outlook in 2014 will start to brighten as range-extended battery-powered cars are launched, like the new 2014 BMW i3.”
Forecasting developments in driverless cars, Leech said: “New self-driving features will be deployed in executive cars such as ‘traffic-jam assist’ which will see cars driving themselves in low speed traffic jams.”
“The focus on innovation by the UK government will also help the development of driverless and electric cars. Plans to test driverless cars in the UK by global car manufacturers will push the UK as a player in driverless car technology.”
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