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What Britain's departure from the EU could mean for manufacturing in the CSV sector
Image credit: omersukrugoksu via iStock
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Brexit has become a very real issue for the UK and Europe in recent years and it represents not only a shift in the political ties of a continent but also a change in the economic landscape that will impact every industry and sector in the years ahead.
That said, is Brexit really something to be feared? Well, for the manufacturing and automotive industries at least, there could be a host of benefits that this disentanglement could bring.
Strict emissions thresholds are currently in place in each segment of the automotive manufacturing industry - including the commercial and specialty vehicles (CSV) sector. It means the efforts of manufacturers to develop new and innovative means of making vehicles more efficient will remain their top priority for the foreseeable future.
Vehicle light-weighting therefore remains at the very forefront of driving carbon emissions reduction and will be a chief concern for CSV developers in the years ahead. The enhanced efficiency of lighter CSVs will play a crucial role in ensuring ambitious carbon reduction targets remain on track to be met.
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With a binding goal set by the UK government in the Climate Change Act (2008) of achieving a 57 per cent reduction in CO2 output for the UK by 2030 compared to the levels seen in 1990, the efforts of manufacturers to develop new, lightweight materials that can make CSVs more efficient becomes increasingly important.
However, CSV manufacturers that operate both within the EU and the UK will face a number of challenges. Will there be separate guidelines relating to acceptable levels of emissions for commercial vehicles in the different areas? But also, will the UK authorities legislate a different way in which these reductions are to be achieved than in Europe? These are difficult questions, but ultimately the UK's release from the stringent guidelines of the EU may result in a renewed freedom to innovate.
However, CSV manufacturers that operate both within the EU and the UK will face a number of challenges. Will there be separate guidelines relating to acceptable levels of emissions for commercial vehicles in the different areas? But also, will the UK authorities legislate a different way in which these reductions are to be achieved than in Europe? These are difficult questions, but ultimately the UK's release from the stringent guidelines of the EU may result in a renewed freedom to innovate.
Brexit will also present an opportunity to innovate in terms of reaching out to new partners around the world. Creating the opportunity for new trade deals could significantly enhance the position of UK manufacturers in sourcing raw materials and other essential components in the development of next-generation materials and lightweight vehicles.
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Manufacturers working in the UK post-Brexit may also witness other significant benefits, as an expected reduction in the strength of sterling against other high-profile currencies - the US dollar and the euro, most notably - will mean exporters can expect a boost to their overseas sales, with improved price competitively across the board.
Furthermore, as 3M is a global business, we expect to see our partners in the UK taking on a far broader outlook in their desire to partner with new overseas suppliers and developers in the realm of lightweight materials. This could lead to improved design efficiency and access to a far wider community of industry partners than is currently the case.
Brexit is therefore nothing to be feared for companies operating in the manufacturing sector in the years ahead. Indeed, it presents an opportunity to break from the past and for businesses to pursue new and innovative ways of achieving their goals.
That said, the close ties that have existed for so long between the UK and the EU will not disappear overnight and there will be a lengthy period of transition before full separation becomes a reality. This means there is still plenty of time for the details to be hashed out and for the CSV sector, manufacturers and, above all, UK and European lawmakers to get their houses in order.
Only time will tell what the future holds for both the UK and Europe, but what we can predict is that the drive towards lower emissions and enhanced manufacturing sector efficiency is a process that will continue unabated - with CSV light-weighting and a pursuit of game-changing innovation in the sector at its core.
Sources
- http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/fcb/exhaust-emissions-testing.asp
- https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/548148/vehicle-emissions-testing-programme-web.pdf
- https://www.theccc.org.uk/tackling-climate-change/reducing-carbon-emissions/carbon-budgets-and-targets/
- https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2020_en
- https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2030_en
- http://www.viewfromthebridge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-economic-impact-of-Brexit.pdf
- https://www.taitwalker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Brexit-manufacturing.pdf
- http://uk.businessinsider.com/british-economy-manufacturers-brexit-boost-2016-8
- http://www.icaew.com/en/archive/technical/manufacturing/general/what-would-brexit-mean-for-manufacturing
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