The North East’s thriving automotive cluster
North East England has a thriving and successful automotive cluster.
The region produces 30% of all UK automotive vehicles, which includes 20% of all battery electric vehicles across Europe and 350,000 engines per year. Three of the UK’s top five off-highway manufacturers are based here and produce 10% of all UK non-highway vehicles.
It is home to a globally competitive supply chain that consists of 33 Tier 1 suppliers, a vibrant community of innovative SMEs, 22 cutting-edge R&D centres, and a robust business support network, indeed, the region thrives as a powerhouse of automotive excellence. The sector employs over 30,000 people, exports £7.4 billion and has a turnover of £11 billion per annum.
Supporting the evolution of the region’s automotive sector is the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA). An industry-led cluster organisation, the NEAA works directly with OEMs and the supply chain across North East England delivering support to improve competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The electrification opportunity
The North East is at the forefront of the UK’s electric revolution. The region is home to Europe’s most successful Electric Vehicle (EV), the Nissan LEAF, Europe’s first Giga battery manufacturing facility, and has full Power Electronics, Motors and Drives (PEMD) capability.
Bolstered by research and development powerhouses like the Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) Industrialisation Centre North East and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, the region is a hub of innovation in electric vehicle technology. The Advanced Propulsion Centre, a UK Government-funded initiative, has an Electric Machine spoke at Newcastle University. Furthermore, 17 of the 21 automotive-related research centres in the North East are dedicated to electrification. (Source: North East Automotive Alliance 2025).
The North East’s unrivalled experience in engineering and advanced manufacturing coupled with the strength of our automotive sector, provides the foundation for electrification technologies, particularly in electric vehicles and batteries.
International Advanced Manufacturing Park
The International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) is an Investment Zone located on the border between South Tyneside and Sunderland.
The first phase of the project, a partnership between South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils, is now complete with manufacturing giants SNOP UK, AESC UK, Jatco and Faltec Europe on site, in proximity to the Nissan UK plant.
IAMP now offers the potential to develop up to 1.8m sq ft of flexible business accommodation. Bespoke plots can be designed to meet specific requirements.
For an up to date brochure please e-mail: business@southtyneside.gov.uk
The Port of Tyne
The Port of Tyne in South Tyneside is the UK’s second largest car export hub, handling more than 600,000 cars a year. It has a solid reputation in the automotive world and its three secure, dedicated vehicle terminals are an essential part of that.
Customers including Nissan, VW and Höegh trust the Port of Tyne with their vehicles. As well as three dedicated vehicle terminals, there is additional land for overflows and one-off shipments, with land available for development, very close to RoRo berths.
Our talented automotive workforce
The North East has a large skills base that supplies a productive, innovative and highly-developed workforce. More than 116,000 people work in manufacturing roles, including 58,000 specialist workers employed in advanced manufacturing.
Over 129,000 students study at the region’s five universities, with more than 68,000 studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. The North East has one of the highest proportions of students studying STEM subjects out of any UK region, and the 3rd highest proportion of students studying engineering and technology subjects in all UK regions. (Invest North East: 2025)
Local colleges and universities offer over 300 advanced manufacturing-related courses, many of which are integrally linked to the prospective jobs market. The Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) at Sunderland University, for example, provides access to cutting-edge industry expertise.
The Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI) is a state-of-the-art facility for training workers in the low-carbon automotive manufacturing sector, covering all aspects of the industry’s skills needs and training the workforce of the future to make Nissan’s market-leading electric vehicles. (Source: Invest North East 2022.)
Support for your automotive business
Our dedicated team will provide practical support for automotive organisations setting up a facility in South Tyneside.
Get in touch with your requirements, whether you are thinking about relocating, looking to expand your business, or if you are just setting up in North East England.
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