Virtual Automotive Export Week is Launched

The NEAA is collaborating with Supply Chain North East and the Department for International Trade (DIT) to ensure the virtual event invites businesses at every stage of the process to explore key automotive markets, learn about all aspects of export, seek support from market specialists and trade champions, build contacts and meet potential customers.

There will be more than 30 events including country briefings, interactive panel discussions and workshops. In addition, the week will provide a platform for delegates to market their products and services to enable business matchmaking, collaboration and one-to-one networking.

Paul Butler, CEO, North East Automotive Alliance, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Supply Chain North East and the Department for International Trade to demonstrate that the North East continues to be a key player in the global automotive sector.

“Over the past 30 years the region has established itself as a centre of excellence for automotive manufacturing. It is the second largest automotive region in the UK and accounts for 30% of UK passenger vehicles, 20% of Europe’s electric passenger vehicles, 10% of all UK non-highway vehicles and produces 350,000 engines per year. More recently, it has established itself as a leading location for electrification with strengths in battery manufacturing, power electronics, motors and drives.

“Automotive Export Week will feature country briefings from across the globe and creates the ideal opportunity for businesses to expand their sector knowledge and raise their company profile with a view to boosting sales overseas and speaking directly to specialist trade advisors.”

Lawrence Davies MBE, automotive sector team, Department for International Trade, said: “I am delighted to be supporting Automotive Export Week this September. This is another example of the NEAA’s proactive support for its members and willingness to collaborate with the wider UK sector.

This event will bring together automotive country specialists from within the Department for International Trade and other supporting organisations and companies from across the North East and the UK. Companies at all stages of export will benefit from this amazing opportunity. The automotive sector remains the UK’s largest exporter of industrial goods and I, for one, would like to see this continue.”

Ljupcso Mihailovski, deputy director, CEE regional automotive head at Department for International Trade (DIT) said of his involvement in the event: “Our cooperation with the North East Automotive Alliance for the past two years has been very intensive and productive. Together with my team from Central Europe, a region including 7 countries, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech R., Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, we have engaged regularly with opportunities for the NEAA members in the region, mostly about Poland, although there is big potential expanding this to the other countries.

“In our session at the Automotive Export Week, we would like to give UK companies an overview of the automotive sector in the region, the effect of COVID-19 and opportunities as well as relevant events in the region. We are of course here to support UK businesses export to Europe, as well as supporting them in potential expansion in the region.”

Paul Brooks, UK head of manufacturing & automotive at Santander UK, who will also join the event, said: “Our automotive sector is steeped in entrepreneurialism, with the UK continually ranking in the top ten for global car exports. The UK is integral to the international supply chain and this position has been bolstered by the innovation we see here in the North East.

As a bank that has a footprint in markets around the world, we are excited to share our passion for supporting UK businesses with international expansion as we take part in Automotive Export Week.” To sign up for the Virtual Automotive Week, please register here.