Topdon US ramps up automotive education support with new ASE Foundation sponsorship and EV training collaborations

As UK car manufacturing declines and global trade tensions threaten exports, industry charity Ben enhances support for displaced workers with proactive upskilling and mental health initiatives in a bid to stabilise the sector's future.The UK automotive industry is currently going through quite a tough patch, with production numbers declining, a significant number of jobs being lost, and a real urgency to tackle skills shortages. Industry charity Ben has stepped up its support for automotive workers affected by redundancies. They're not just offering immediate help for those losing their jobs but also focusing on proactive solutions like upskilling and career coaching. For instance, with UK car manufacturing dipping nearly 12% in the first half of 2025, and thousands of jobs being cut across the supply chain, Ben’s expanded ‘Work, health & wellbeing’ services aim to serve as a safety net. These include free online tools, personalized coaching for CV writing, job hunting strategies, managing stress, and financial advice. Plus, there's added digital mental health support programs to back workers up. Rachel Clift, Ben’s CEO, points out that the industry faces a two-fold challenge: “The automotive sector is dealing with redundancies while also having a long-term technician shortage,” she explains. This concern isn’t unfounded — predictions suggest that by 2035, the industry may need to fill over 111,400 new and replacement roles, including 45,800 technician positions. Ben also works closely with key industry players like Rygor, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). These groups provide tailored career resources to help workers manage these turbulent times. Right now, things are made worse by a handful of economic and geopolitical issues. Recently, Lotus announced plans to cut 550 jobs in the UK — around 40% of their 1,300-strong workforce. The company cited falling sales and financial instability caused by global uncertainties such as trade tensions and tariff implications. Although Lotus said it plans to keep manufacturing at its Norfolk plant, the company’s shift towards third-party production and consolidating globally reflects broader instability across the industry. Interestingly enough, this restructuring follows a government-backed intervention that previously prevented the plant’s closure, which really highlights just how fragile UK automotive manufacturing has become given the changing trade policies. Tariffs from the US are still a huge threat, especially to the UK’s luxury brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, and McLaren. These companies face a 25% import tariff on foreign-made vehicles, and Mike Hawes, SMMT's CEO, has warned that these tariffs are quickly eating into export volumes. Unless the government steps in or manages to negotiate better trade deals, thousands of jobs — estimates suggest over 25,000 — could be at risk. These tariffs push up costs and also scare away wealthy American buyers, which directly hits order books and company forecasts. Industry experts warn that unless something changes, many jobs in the UK automotive sector could be lost. On top of that, suppliers in Germany connected with car manufacturing are also feeling the pinch. Thyssenkrupp, for example, announced plans to cut around 1,800 jobs, blaming weak market conditions and tariff concerns. Meanwhile, recruitment firm Hays has issued a serious profit warning, mainly because of reduced hiring in Germany’s automotive sector. That market’s been especially hit by US tariffs and economic headwinds. These issues highlight how intertwined the European automotive supply chain is — problems in one area quickly ripple out and affect employment and investment confidence throughout. Despite a slowdown in job openings across the UK motor trade — vacancies dropped to a vacancy rate of 2.7% in May 2025, a 21% decrease from the previous year — there’s still a strong demand for skilled technicians. Many automotive firms report difficulties in filling these technical roles, and wages are climbing for those positions. The average salary for vehicle technicians is now well above the government median, which shows how competitive the market for skilled, hands-on workers has become. This ongoing skills gap underscores the importance of initiatives like the ones Ben supports—focused on reskilling and career development—to help secure a sustainable workforce long term. As the industry grapples with all these challenges, there's a growing consensus that a unified support system is crucial. Combining immediate aid for workers who’ve lost their jobs with longer-term investments in talent development seems to be the best way forward. While companies and policymakers are trying to navigate economic and trade uncertainties, charities and industry organisations are playing an increasingly vital role — helping automotive professionals shift careers, and ensuring the workforce’s capabilities adapt to evolving industry needs. Source: Noah Wire Services

European and Chinese automakers are forging closer partnerships, leveraging their respective strengths in innovation and manufacturing, to shape the future of sustainable and intelligent mobility amidst escalating global market tensions.The future direction of the global car industry is increasingly leaning on openness and collaborative efforts—especially between European and Chinese companies—according to Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, a prominent German automotive expert and head of the Center for Automotive Research in Bochum. Speaking just before the 2025 IAA Mobility event in Munich, Dudenhoeffer pointed out that the changing landscape of automotive innovation and industry overhaul is driven by the synergy between Europe's deep expertise in vehicle dynamics, brand heritage, and China's strengths in digital infrastructure, software, and automation. This cooperation, I think, is becoming more vital as the industry navigates contrasting geopolitical trends. On one side, the U.S. has pushed aggressive tariff policies aimed at reducing trade deficits, but Dudenhoeffer warns that these policies might create unpredictable trade barriers which could hurt the global automotive scene. Meanwhile, Europe and China are forming partnerships that boost the uptake of electric vehicles and smart car tech. The upcoming Munich show, which is set to feature around 116 Chinese firms, is expected to showcase progress in autonomous driving, smart cockpit systems, and digitalization—all areas where Chinese companies are really making strides. China's role at IAA Mobility also highlights how competition between European and Chinese automakers—especially in electric vehicles—is heating up. Brands like BYD, GAC, Changan, and Hongqi have made significant inroads into Europe. For example, BYD's global sales hit 4.2 million units in 2024, with European sales soaring by nearly 290% in 2025 alone. European legacy automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Volkswagen are reacting cautiously but are increasingly pushing out new EV models to fight for market share. Some analysts say Europe has been a bit slow to respond to the Chinese EV boom, which makes the need for collaborative innovation even more urgent. Beyond just competing, Chinese firms are actively investing in Europe’s manufacturing hubs and innovation landscapes. Major Chinese battery producers are setting up large battery cell plants in Germany, aiming to accelerate the deployment of green tech in line with Germany’s goal of having 15 million electric cars on the road by 2030. Brands like NIO and BYD are rolling out new EV models in European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. These cross-border investments and technological exchanges are further cementing China's role as an essential partner in Europe’s push toward EV adoption. Dudenhoeffer emphasized that this kind of Europe-China cooperation isn’t just about market share—it’s also a strategic necessity for maintaining competitiveness amidst global uncertainty and protectionism. He’s quite optimistic about ongoing negotiations to reduce tariffs between China and Europe, hoping for a future where auto tariffs are minimized or eliminated altogether. This, he suggests, would be beneficial for both sides. He contrasted this optimistic outlook with the U.S. policies back home, which he criticizes for cutting green energy incentives and enacting tariffs that complicate global supply chains and threaten sustainability efforts. Looking further ahead, Dudenhoeffer believes that the overarching goal for the automotive world involves pushing toward sustainable development through electrification, digitalization, and automation. Combining the European mastery of traditional automotive craftsmanship and road handling with Chinese innovation in intelligent tech and long-term planning creates a kind of complementary partnership. By leveraging these combined strengths—through openness and better infrastructure—the industry could really lead the way in transitioning to next-generation, low-carbon mobility. So, in a nutshell, this transformation is unfolding amidst geopolitical tensions and market turbulence, but international platforms like the Munich auto show still paint an encouraging picture of shared development. It’s not just about rolling out smarter, more comfortable, and automated vehicles—the process also paves an important path for building a resilient and sustainable future for the global automotive scene. Honestly, it’s pretty interesting, right? Despite all the turbulence, cooperation seems to be the way forward, and everyone stands to benefit from it. References: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2] - Paragraph 3 – [2] - Paragraph 4 – [3], [5], [6] - Paragraph 5 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 6 – [1] Source: Noah Wire Services

HERE Technologies and AWS have launched the SDV Accelerator, a comprehensive platform designed to streamline the development of software-defined vehicles through cloud services, AI simulations, and customisable navigation technology, marking a significant advance in automotive digital transformation.HERE Technologies and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have teamed up to introduce the SDV Accelerator—a comprehensive set of tools aimed at speeding up how automakers develop software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This initiative combines cloud services, pre-selected partner solutions available via AWS Marketplace, and a framework of guidelines along with sample code. The goal, really, is to make it easier and faster for automotive companies to integrate advanced vehicle technologies, all while improving supply chain management — which, let’s be honest, is a significant part of the puzzle. This SDV Accelerator builds upon a partnership that started back in 2022 between HERE and AWS. It now brings in specific resources designed to support independent software vendors (ISVs)—those key players who are really pushing the industry towards cloud-based vehicle architectures. Its modular, open design aligns with industry standards, meaning different development teams—say, the folks working on ADAS or infotainment—can collaborate without losing control over their own software components. That kind of flexibility is super important if they want to preserve brand identity and keep pushing innovation across the vehicle’s software lifecycle. Remco Timmer, who’s HERE’s SVP and leads their automotive solutions, highlighted that this accelerator can help automakers shrink their development cycles, boost collaboration, and stay in the driver’s seat when it comes to product roadmaps and brand experience. One feature that really stands out is SceneXtract—a simulation tool powered by AI, which HERE and AWS recently rolled out. It combines HERE’s high-definition Live Map data with AWS’s AI tech to create realistic virtual driving environments quickly. Honestly, this makes testing and validating ADAS and autonomous driving functions a lot more efficient, saving both time and money. Being able to simulate real-world scenarios rapidly is a game-changer now, especially as automakers face ever-stringent safety and performance standards—plus, they’re rushing to get their vehicles out to market sooner. But it’s not just about software; the partnership also pushes into supply chain optimization. HERE’s detailed location and map data, combined with AWS’s cloud infrastructure, helps improve fleet management and logistics—think better shipment visibility and more efficient deliveries. This has become increasingly important in automotive manufacturing and distribution, don’t you think? Oh, and HERE has also launched the HERE Navigation SDK for SDVs. This allows automakers to customize user interfaces—tailoring them to match their brand identities. The SDK supports larger screens and smooth integration of infotainment and ADAS features, reflecting a clear trend toward personalized in-car digital experiences. For example, Sony Honda Mobility has already adopted the SDK for its AFEELA vehicle line, which shows just how serious industry players are about bespoke vehicle software environments. All in all, the SDV Accelerator and its related tools arrive at a pretty crucial juncture in the digital transformation of the automotive world. With HERE achieving AWS Automotive Competency early in 2024, their strengthened partnership definitely points to a shared commitment to pushing cloud-based innovation forward in SDVs. And it’s interesting to note that other collaborations—like AWS working with Valeo on cloud-native SDV solutions—also suggest a bigger picture: cloud infrastructure, AI-driven simulations, and open software ecosystems are becoming core foundations for the next-gen connected, autonomous, and highly customizable vehicles. In summary, the SDV Accelerator marks a significant leap in the software-defined vehicle landscape. By bringing together cloud services, AI-powered simulation, and cutting-edge mapping tech into one cohesive platform, it promises faster, more cost-effective development—it’s pretty impressive, right? Importantly, it allows automakers to navigate the complexities of digital innovation while maintaining control over their technologies and brands in an increasingly competitive market. Source: Noah Wire Services