Connected, autonomous cars to create 320,000 British jobs by 2030: report

Connected and autonomous vehicles will help generate 320,000 jobs in Britain by 2030, delivering huge benefits to society and the economy, according to a research report commissioned by Britain's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Released at the SMMT Connected conference here Thursday, the report said it has found these new vehicles to deliver a 51-billion-pound (or 76 billion U.S. dollars) boost to the British economy and reduce serious road traffic accidents by more than 25,000 a year by 2030.

The report, authored by professional services provider KPMG, also forecast that Britain would be a global leader in the production of this next generation of vehicles.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said: "The UK must grasp the opportunities ahead and ensure it is continually at the forefront of pushing through these next breakthrough technologies."

Robert Goodwill, Britain's transport minister, said: "We are making huge investments to support innovation, including 19 million pounds for real-world trials of driverless cars and 100 million pounds to research autonomous vehicles, as recently announced in the budget (on March 18)."

"Connected and autonomous cars will help us move towards a smart, safe, efficient and low-carbon future," he added.

SMMT Connected is the first ever industry-wide event in Britain to explore technological opportunities and challenges and demonstrate how the UK automotive sector is already developing the cars of the future.

The event displayed some of the latest connected innovations, including vehicles from BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan. Endit