This week, Oxfordshire plays host to some of the UK’s most advanced automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) brings its Regional Forum to the South East. The event, taking place on Wednesday 15 October at the Oxford Belfry Hotel in Thame, will provide a platform for hundreds of automotive executives to examine growth opportunities and strategies amid ongoing industry challenges.
With trade tensions, slower-than-expected electrification, and rising cost pressures impacting the sector, the forum offers a timely space to explore how businesses are adapting while seizing opportunities to expand.
The South East: A Strategic Automotive Hub
New SMMT analysis highlights the South East’s critical role in the UK’s automotive landscape. Companies in the region contribute an impressive £1.3 billion annually to the economy and support more than 17,000 jobs — one in eleven of all UK automotive manufacturing positions. Since 2015, global brands have invested £1.4 billion in the region, underlining its strategic significance for manufacturing, innovation, and investment.
The South East’s automotive heritage is long-standing. From the opening of the Brooklands motor circuit in 1907 to the birth of iconic marques, the region has been a centre of automotive excellence for over a century. Today, it hosts nearly 750 manufacturing companies, spanning premium, sports, and luxury vehicles, including Caterham, Gordon Murray Automotive, McLaren, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, alongside Ford’s UK engine plant.
The area is also renowned for research, development, and testing, particularly in motorsport and automated vehicles. Proximity to Motorsport Valley and the Cambridgeshire Innovation Corridor reinforces the South East’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge automotive technology and investment.
Industry Leaders Share Insights
The Regional Forum agenda brings together influential voices in the automotive sector. Speakers include Dr Andy Harris, Head of Research and Data Analytics at Wrightbus; Lisa Brankin, Managing Director of Ford of Britain; Louis Jones, EV & Connected Services Director at DAF Trucks; and Ramona Dienel, Finance Director at BMW (UK) Manufacturing & Swindon Pressings. SMMT CEO Mike Hawes will also address attendees, offering insight into the sector’s trajectory and opportunities for innovation.
“Bringing the SMMT Regional Forum to the South East this year is a recognition of the area’s strong automotive ties, highly skilled workforce, and significant economic contribution,” said Hawes. “With the focus on product innovation and the next generation of electric, connected, and automated vehicles, the timing could not be better for companies to explore where to design, engineer, and build the vehicles of the future.”
A Platform for Networking and Growth
The SMMT Regional Forum forms part of a nationwide effort to provide support, networking, and business connections for members. Representing more than 800 UK automotive companies across production, sales, supply chain, and aftermarket, SMMT offers members a chance to voice their views on key issues, helping businesses grow profitably, competitively, and sustainably.
Members benefit from complimentary access to SMMT events, alongside exclusive industry data, intelligence, and webinars that support strategic decision-making. Regional forums complement major SMMT gatherings such as the SMMT Summit and Electrified, ensuring that the organisation provides year-round opportunities to share insights, explore partnerships, and shape the industry’s future.
Looking Ahead
As the South East continues to attract global investment and innovation, the Oxfordshire forum underscores the region’s enduring importance to the UK automotive sector. With discussions spanning electrification, automation, and connected services, industry leaders will leave equipped with fresh insights and practical strategies to navigate the evolving landscape.
