British Luxury Car Makers Drive £5bn Exports and Jobs
Britain’s luxury, high-performance and niche car makers generate exports worth about £5 billion each year, sending roughly nine in ten vehicles overseas, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals in its report The UK’s Small Volume Automotive Manufacturers: An Enduring British Success Story. The study highlights quintessentially British brands, such as Aston Martin, Bentley, LEVC, Lotus, McLaren, Morgan, and Rolls-Royce, which craft supercars, luxury SUVs, electric saloons, and iconic London taxis for a global audience.
These manufacturers generated more than £5.5 billion in 2024, produced just 4 per cent of the nation’s cars, yet delivered 12 per cent of their total value, and accounted for 17 per cent of UK automotive export earnings. They employ over 15,000 people in highly skilled, well-paid roles, with an average salary of £43,729—18 per cent above the national mean.
The sector sustains approximately 60,000 additional jobs across its domestic supply chain, enabling the production of strong British-sourced content. Since 2020, the companies have invested roughly £3.5 billion in research and development, pioneering lightweight materials, hybrid powertrains, and advanced aerodynamics that have later benefited the wider British automotive industry.
Yet, small-volume automotive manufacturers now face volatile global trade, the urgent drive to decarbonise, rising production costs, and a rapid skills transition. Their bespoke, low-volume output and longer development cycles extend the cost recovery period, so the industry is urging the government to factor their needs into forthcoming industrial and trade strategies.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Britain’s luxury, performance and niche vehicle makers are exemplars of automotive design, engineering and manufacturing – and a quintessential British success story, the definition of ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’. The government rightly recognises the importance of these high-value and iconic brands to the UK economy. Amid multiple geopolitical headwinds, the industry is looking to work together to ensure the sector can not only survive but also thrive. A successful sector would deliver the economic growth, well-paid jobs and exports that the government craves, helping keep Britain firmly on the global automotive map.”
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Minister Catherine West added, “Britain’s luxury and niche car manufacturers support high-skilled job creation and drive innovation. This government is proud to champion the sector as part of our wider mission to promote British industry abroad, attract investment, and deliver on this government’s Plan for Change.”
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said, “Our luxury automotive manufacturers are iconic British brands recognised worldwide, and this report rightly highlights the huge contribution they make to the UK economy. We’re ensuring our carmakers continue to grow from strength to strength as we deliver our Plan for Change. We’ve already secured landmark trade deals with the US and India, which will reduce tariffs for the sector and create new export opportunities. Our modern Industrial Strategy will set out a long-term plan to support our manufacturers, including by creating the right conditions for increased investment, bringing growth, jobs and opportunities to every part of the UK.”
The report urges ministers to acknowledge the sector’s strategic value, create flexible pathways towards zero-emission targets that recognise low-volume production, broaden access to R&D grants tailored to small innovators, remove non-tariff barriers through focused trade negotiations, and use a reformed Growth and Skills Levy to fund rapid upskilling so that four out of five roles evolve smoothly by 2030.
SMMT underscored these recommendations at a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office event in London, where senior industry figures and MPs gathered alongside striking new models from Aston Martin, Bentley, LEVC, Lotus, McLaren and Morgan, reaffirming the global appeal of British luxury and performance cars.