UK Engine Production By Maker : 2013

Ford's Dagenham plant

It may sound an unusual subject, but there is somewhat unique situation in the UK with engine manufacturing. Most countries make a similar number of engines to cars made, but not the UK. This has come about due to Ford, who stopped car production but then decided to make the UK an engine manufacturing location. Something like a quarter of all Ford engines around the world are made there, without one car being manufactured.

Ford has two engine plants, one in Dagenham, England (basis for a movie not so long ago) and the other Bridgend, Wales. Both make a similar amount of units. Dagenham employs just over 1,800 people, while Bridgend in excess of 2,100. Production was slightly down 2% in 2013, not surprising with Europe's depressed situation.

BMW has its engine plant at Hams Hall, Birmingham. It employs about 800 people and makes small, fuel efficient engines for both MINI and BMW models. Production was up 6%.

Nissan engine production in Sunderland (only petrol engines made there) was the same in 2013 as the year before.

Toyota makes engines in Wales also, in Deeside, North Wales. Approximately 600 people work there, and they had a strong 61% increase.

BMW's Hams Hall facility

Honda has more than 500 'associates' (workers in other words) making both petrol and diesel engines on the same production line. Total production was down 9%.

Bentley (VW) makes engines at Crewe, England. It is the largest maker of the W12 engine globally.

11	12	13			Share	+/-
1	1	1	Ford	1,528,500	60%	-2%
2	2	2	BMW	408,100	16%	6%
3	3	3	Nissan	266,100	10%	0%
4	5	4	Toyota	200,400	8%	61%
5	4	5	Honda	139,700	6%	-9%
6	6	6	Bentley	10,500	0%	15%
			Total	2,553,300		2%

Data source: Thanks to the SMMT.

Making car engines goes under the radar for the media and the public. Cars are what people drive and the engine is but one part of that. However, power, economy and refinement is something that the driver will be aware of and the engine is an important aspect of those dynamics. So a very important part of the car and one built in the UK may be under the bonnet of your vehicle.