Drive 35

Infrastructure and Construction

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £1.8bn
Published schedule: Not disclosed – 30/04/2030
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Graham Zebedee

What the project is for

DRIVE35 is a cross-government major programme led by DBT to support the end-to-end transformation of the UK automotive sector, with a focus on accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles and strengthening domestic manufacturing capability. The programme brings together a portfolio of interventions including capital grants, R&D support, and scale-up financing to support both early-stage innovation and commercial deployment. It targets strategic segments of the automotive supply chain, including battery manufacturing, power electronics, and critical component production, with the aim of securing long-term investment, enhancing UK competitiveness, and supporting regional economic growth. DRIVE35 is designed as an integrated offer, working with partners across government and delivery bodies to provide blended finance and coordinated policy support. It aims to crowd in private investment, enable the development of industrial clusters, and support companies from innovation through to industrialisation.

Departmental delivery commentary

This is the first annual report for DRIVE35, the Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 is rated Green. This reflects a programme that is delivering substantial strategic value while accepting there are a number of delivery and operational challenges typical of a complex cross-government portfolio. Key factors influencing the assessment include: organisational changes and resourcing pressures affecting delivery capacity and continuity; the complexity of governance arrangements across policy, delivery, and external partners; and the need to maintain pace and clarity in decision-making to remain internationally competitive. The Department has taken steps to mitigate these risks through strengthening programme management capability, enhancing PMO support, and increasing focus on strategic risk management and governance maturity. There is active senior oversight through established boards and regular risk review processes. Overall, while challenges remain, the programme is considered deliverable with continued focus on strengthening delivery capability, improving process efficiency, and maintaining a clear strategic narrative for investors and stakeholders.

Schedule

This is the first annual report for DRIVE35, the Programme end date is currently 31/03/2030 with a planned 5 year extension to March 2035.

Cost

This is the first annual report for DRIVE35, the Programme Whole life costs are £2.04bn.

Benefits

This is the first annual report for DRIVE35, the Programme DRIVE35, benefits at 25/26 Q4 are reported at £2,397.4m.