The Government has outlined its spending review covering its financial plans from the years 2026-27 to 2029-30, including multiple investments which will benefit the automotive sector.
Most notably, the Government announced its intentions to spend £24 billion on a long-term strategy to repair and improve roads across England.
A substantial amount of the fund will go into fixing damaged roads, including potholes, which is a major concern for UK drivers – with 96% of AA members last year stating that road management is the most significant concern in terms of transport.
The funding will also be used to improve the safety of road networks while also aiming to reduce congestion. This is set to be achieved by widening lanes on motorways and upgrading busy junctions and roundabouts.
Along with the major spending on road repairs, the Government also shared plans to invest £1.4 billion to support the continued uptake of electric cars, as well as vans and HGVs. While details of the planned support are yet to be shared, it was also stated that an additional £400 million is earmarked for infrastructure and charging development, building on the almost 80,000 existing public charging devices.
The spending review’s outlay for automotive funding will be a welcome move for motorists and other roads users alike; improving roads and EV infrastructure have been ongoing points of contention for UK drivers and cyclists.
In the event of an incident, Motor Assist can provide end-to-end claims and accident management services for both ICE and electric vehicles. Motor Assist’s network of expert bodyshops are trained in all types of powertrains, and its replacement vehicle services can provide a like-for-like vehicle, including EVs, should a car need to come off the road.
To further encourage EV uptake, EValuate, Motor Assist’s latest initiative, also offers ICE drivers in need of a replacement vehicle the option to choose an EV, giving drivers a real-world extended experience, to see if EV ownership is viable for them.
