Full Breakdown
Andy Burnham Pushes for UK Inclusion in EU “Made in Europe” Auto Scheme
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – UK’s Bid to Join the EU “Made in Europe” Programme
On September 22, Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters aboard a flight to New York that Britain should be treated as a “trusted partner” in the European Union’s “Made in Europe” policy, which aims to reduce reliance on Chinese components by giving preference to European-made automotive goods. Burnham argued that the UK should not be cast as an adversary and that exclusion would create “collateral damage” for the British car industry, which supplies parts to EU manufacturers and sells vehicles across the bloc.
Background & Context
The “Made in Europe” initiative is part of the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act, a broader effort to boost domestic automotive production and cut Chinese supply-chain dependence. Since the United Kingdom left the EU in 2016, trade rules for the auto sector have been negotiated separately, leaving the UK outside many EU-wide incentives such as greener fleet subsidies and CO2 “super-credits.” The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned that the draft provisions would deny British-built vehicles access to these incentives and to public procurement contracts in EU member states.
Data & Statistics
- The cross-Channel automotive trade relationship is valued at €80 billion a year.
- Excluding UK-built cars from the scheme would remove eligibility for EU-funded greener-fleet incentives and CO2 super-credits.
- The EU is the United Kingdom’s largest export market for passenger cars, while the UK is the EU’s largest customer for automotive components.
Official Statements & Responses
He signalled willingness to discuss the matter with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and highlighted a pending UK-EU summit, delayed by the change in British leadership in July, that he hopes will occur later this year.
The SMMT, represented by Chief Executive Mike Hawes, reiterated that despite Brexit, supply chains remain deeply integrated and that the exclusion would be “an own goal,” weakening competitiveness, reducing scale, and limiting consumer choice. The group stressed that any barrier would harm both the UK auto sector and EU manufacturers that rely on British components.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are making the argument: we are not your enemies here... we are not the problem,” — Andy Burnham, prime minister
- “Let's work towards a trusted partner approach that doesn't cause a problem where there wasn't a problem and where we ?have common cause.” — The Society
- “Despite Brexit, supply chains remain deeply integrated ?and the cross-Channel trading relationship is worth€80 billiona year,” — SMMT Chief Executive Mike
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No source disputes the basic facts of the “Made in Europe” draft or the economic interdependence described above. However, the precise timeline for the UK-EU summit remains unspecified, and the final text of the EU proposal has not been publicly released, leaving uncertainty about which incentives will be available to British manufacturers if the scheme proceeds.
What’s Next
Burnham indicated that the forthcoming UK-EU summit—postponed after the July leadership change—will be a key venue for negotiating the UK’s role in the “Made in Europe” framework. The outcome of that meeting will determine whether British automotive firms can access EU incentives and procurement contracts under the new policy.