THE era of handouts from the State could well be over – but it seems the car makers are not seeking them, anyway.

Automotive Council co-chair Richard Parry-Jones says that, contrary to widespread belief, the UK car industry does not want (and is not dependent on) more Government aid.

Instead, it wants ‘consistent, aligned, positive messages. Rhetoric is far more important than people realise.’

He told all this to delegates at the SMMT International Automotive Summit on Wednesday – right before business secretary Vince Cable pronounced the era of Government aid was, well, over. Well timed, then, you could say…

Cable will be receptive to Parry-Jones’ thoughts; they sit alongside each other in chairing the Automotive Council, following the departure of Peter Mandelson. It’s actually meeting today, incidentally, where RPJ will force home his message at the Summit.

‘’We are not asking for more!’ said the ‘Ford-do-fun-cars legend’ at the SMMT Summit. ‘But we want the existing money (that’s been promised) well spent – with focus.

‘2010 is not about more funding, but about more intelligent use of it.’

Besides, the Automotive Council never actually demanded handouts anyway, despite what the mainstream impression may be. What about scrappage, then? That was ‘necessary action to bridge a gap.’ Emergency times need emergency measures.

‘We now have a much leaner, fitter industry. What we need now is a strategic approach to our sector.’

Cable ‘heavy hitter’
He hopes to have a receptive ear in Cable, he added. It is ‘promising’ that ‘another heavy hitter has been appointed as business secretary.

Mandelson was very influential, said Parry-Jones. ‘The initial signs from the new coalition administration is that it wants continuity.’

But the burning question on every delegate’s lips – what about the £5k green car grant? Surely this has already been promised? Is it right that this is now in doubt?

Well, none of the speakers really wanted to focus too much on it, not least Cable, who later said ‘no decision has yet been made.’

No, the UK car industry is not looking for any more handouts. But how much of what we’ve done so far in promoting the country’s ‘decisive global role’ in the fledgling low-carbon agenda has been based on the £5k grant arriving in 2011?

In the next few weeks, we’ll find out…

+ Is Parry-Jones right?
+ Is Cable right to be throwing car maker plans in doubt?
+ What are electric cars all about, anyway?



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