Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Business Secretary Greg Clark kicks off 3-day tour of Japan today
- during visit he will meet leading Japanese automotive companies including Nissan, Honda and Toyota
- Japanese companies have played central role in UK auto sectors success, which exports 80% of all vehicles produced
The role of Japanese companies in the UK automotive sector has been praised by the Business Secretary ahead of a 3-day visit to Japan today (19 October 2016).
It follows constructive talks between the Prime Minister and Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn last week in London.
The Business Secretary is due to meet senior executives from Nissan, Honda and Toyota which between them employ around 15,000 people in the UK and thousands more in the supply chain.
It is the second visit the Business Secretary has made to Japan since his appointment in July, highlighting the personal importance he attaches to this particular relationship. Japan is the second biggest investor in the UK and their track record of co-operation in the development of new technologies and business models is second to none.
Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said:
Though Japan is the second-biggest investor in the UK economy, it is the quality as well as the quantity of that investment that stands out and has contributed to making the UK automotive sector the success story it is today.
The whole of government is clear that the UK remains open for business, which is why I am in Japan today, ensuring we continue our long-standing relationship with companies like Nissan, Honda and Toyota.
Government and industry continue to work together to support the UKs world class automotive industry, including on the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which has invested 1 billion to develop low carbon technologies. We have also invested 100 million in connected and autonomous vehicles, and through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles we are also helping work up the most constructive programme to support the adoption of electric vehicles.