THE South West is a vital part of the UK’s car sector and the government must do all it can to ensure it prospers post-Brexit, industry bosses have said.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) yesterday brought together automotive manufacturers, suppliers and government officials from across the South West to its Regional Forum in Swindon to discuss new supply chain opportunities and preparations for Brexit.

Speakers from Honda, Ford, and Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership joined more than 100 businesses and government representatives to discuss the industry’s post-Brexit settlement.

Upwards of 10,000 jobs, many highly-skilled, are supported across the South West by the automotive sector. Last year, around 10 per cent of the 1.67 million new cars made in the UK were produced in Swindon.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The South West is a crucial region for UK Automotive, sustaining thousands of jobs and manufacturing high-quality cars and components for export around the world. Government has made clear the importance of the industry with a sector deal as part of the recently published industrial strategy.

“Brexit undoubtedly brings uncertainty so it is encouraging to see the prime minister recognise some of the key challenges that will face the sector – not least the importance of integrated supply chains and borders free from quotas and tariffs.”

He claimed that providing certainty is “critical” for Swindon and other automotive regions in the South West.

Asked if he thought the industry regretted the result of the EU referendum, Mr Hawes said: “People voted to leave for a variety of reasons and I think it is important to respect that. As a sector, we need to make sure we can succeed in any environment.”

Investment into Swindon and Wiltshire to develop new technology for the next generation of ultra-low and zero emission cars is, according to industry experts, already well underway.

More than 30 organisations are working together as part of the Swindon Hydrogen Hub to develop the commercial use of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel, while research organisations in the wider region, including the National Composites Centre, are committed to supporting low-carbon vehicle manufacturing.

Paddy Bradley, director of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Working with our partners, we have competitively bid for £169 million of public funding for capital infrastructure projects across three local growth deals with government.

“Our region has considerable experience of making high-quality cars, and this investment will contribute to ensuring we have the right skills.”