However, as with other areas of key UK infrastructure (broad-
band fi bre and mobile phone coverage being some of the others) regional disparities remain, while London boasts over 275 chargers per 100,000 people, areas like Northern Ireland and parts of the north west still fall below 50 per 100,000. For businesses looking to expand EV fl eets or serve electric
customers, this inconsistency presents challenges. Urban areas may be well served, but rural and semi-urban communities remain woefully underserved highlighting one of the main issues the mass take up of EV still faces. T at said, the EV charge continues and ultimately represents opportunities for investment and innovation in the wider sector for those with the vision to pursue them.
Engineering the future of automotive mobility Against this backdrop of national transformation, the region continues to affi rm its long-held reputation for carving out a unique identity in its approach to looking to the future – no longer just as a hub of manufacturing, design and smart transport, but as a centre for advanced electric powertrain manufacturing, crucial to the viable long-term future of EV take up. At the heart of this evolution is Milton Keynes-based Helix,
a company that has rapidly gained international recognition for its power-dense electric motors and inverters used in high- performance, luxury and light-commercial EVs. Founded as Integral Powertrain, Helix has recently doubled
down on EV innovation with the company’s technology already being in use across motorsport, aerospace and high-end automotive applications and there’s something in all of this. T e company’s growth signals a broader trend: repatriation of high-value EV component manufacturing back to the UK. As OEMs look to secure domestic supply chains and reduce exposure to geopolitical and logistical risk, suppliers like Helix (and the central and east region) are positioned to play a pivotal role.
13
A thriving ecosystem and the road ahead Helix isn’t alone. T e region is quickly becoming a magnet for EV- related R&D, engineering services and clean-tech manufacturing. T e region’s strong transport links, access to a skilled workforce, tier one professional services, and a forward-thinking business community make it an ideal location for companies focused on the future of mobility. Within the region, Milton Keynes is proving that the UK’s EV
story is not just about sales fi gures or government targets - it’s also about being part of the march to build a 21st Century industrial base, anchored in clean technology and innovation. As adoption increases and infrastructure catches up (which it will need to continue to do at some pace to meet aggressive government targets), it will be cities like Milton Keynes and companies that invest now (like Helix and its regional partners) that help defi ne the UK automotive sector as it undergoes its biggest transformation since the dawn of the motor car more than 125 years ago. For business leaders watching the EV space, the message is clear: the electric future is arriving faster than expected (or, indeed, some may want!) but it feels like the mass take up of EV is now inevitable and the region is well positioned to play a pivotal role in that change.
Tom Redman is a corporate partner at Howes Percival LLP
and automotive sector legal specialist, routinely advising top 25 franchised and independent motor dealer groups on their UK M&A acquisitions and disposals programmes.
For more information visit:
https://www.howespercival.com/sectors/automotive/ or contact
tom.redman@
howespercival.com
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