Resource Library

The Industrial Strategy launched yesterday (23 June 2025) sets out the Government’s long-term plans for growing the UK economy, raising living standards and building resilience and security.

BVRLA Chief Executive Toby Poston comments; June has been a busy month in Westminster. In the last three weeks we’ve heard the Comprehensive Spending Review, which paved the way for the respective long-term strategies for the UK’s Infrastructure and Industrial development.

The Government has launched its 10-year Industrial Strategy, outlining a long-term plan to grow the UK economy, raise living standards, and support key sectors. For the automotive industry, the newly released Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan is of particular relevance.

The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), has launched two consultations, collectively seeking to bring consistency and clarity relating to autonomous vehicles (AVs). CCAV is a joint unit between the Department for Transport and the Department for Business and Trade. The consultations include a call for evidence on the Statement of Safety Principles, and a draft statutory instrument (SI) on protecting marketing terms for AVs.

Vehicle safety and the negative impacts of misleading marketing will be the focal points of some upcoming government consultations. The Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, which is part of the Department for Transport (DfT), has confirmed the timings for forthcoming consultations following the passing of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024.

Time is running out to secure your tickets for the next week’s Fleets in Charge Conference in London. Taking place less than a week after the election, delegates will get a rounded picture of priorities for the automotive industry.

Over fifty delegates attended the BVRLA’s Vehicle and Fleet Management (VFM) Forum last week, hosted by Toyota in Burnaston, Derby.

In a Fleet Takeover panel at the BVRLA’s upcoming Fleets in Charge Conference, leading fleet operators will discuss how the industry is tackling the stumbling blocks of transitioning to zero emissions. The session, chaired by Paul Hollick of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), will feature a video setting the scene with fleet operators sharing their experiences and challenges.

A new addition to the BVRLA’s Fleets in Charge conference agenda will see a range of key industry representatives deliver their decarbonisation messages to the General Election winners. They will give a status update and assessment of what the new Government needs to deliver in its first 100 days in situ and longer term over their five-year tenure.

Spaces are filling up for the association’s June forums, which provide attendees with exclusive insights on the specialist areas from within the sector that keep things moving.

The unintended consequences coming to light as the industry gets to grips with the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate will be explored as part of the BVRLA’s Fleets in Charge Conference on 10 July. The launch of the latest Road to Zero Report Card will open proceedings, tracking how the mandate is impacting the sector’s transition to cleaner vehicles.

Self-driving vehicles could be on British roads in just two years after the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act became law yesterday (20 May 2024).