Apply for automotive funding via the DRIVE35 programme
Guidance on how to apply for automotive funding through the DRIVE35 programme and how to find the right funding stream for your project.
The government’s DRIVE35 programme is open for applications. DRIVE35 will support the latest research and development, accelerate commercial scale-up, and unlock capital investment in zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and their supply chain. Read this guidance to find the right funding stream for you, before you apply for the programme on the APC website.
DRIVE35 introduction
DRIVE35 (Driving Research & Investment in Vehicle Electrification) is a new £2.5 billion programme of capital and R&D funding, announced as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.
This new programme will build on the success of the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) programmes to support the UK automotive industry.
DRIVE35 eligibility
Applicants must be UK-registered businesses. DRIVE35 has funding available for businesses of all sizes, including collaborations.
DRIVE35 will support projects which help the UK automotive sector’s transition to zero emission vehicle manufacturing. This includes enabling the latest research and development, accelerating commercial scale-up, and unlocking capital investment.
DRIVE35’s has support on offer for a wide spectrum of technology readiness levels (TRLs) between TRL 3 to TRL 9. See individual competition pillars for further detail.
DRIVE35 funding details
A total of £2 billion of capital and R&D funding is available to 2030, with an additional £500 million of R&D funding over a further 5 years, to 2035.
DRIVE35 is composed of 3 funding pillars, ‘Transformation’, ‘Scale-Up’ and ‘Innovation’, each with individual competition streams. The funding amount available for applicants varies according to each stream.
Transformation
Driving capital investment in an internationally competitive ZEV supply chain and upgrading or establishing new plants, securing future zero-emission vehicle assembly in the UK.
Scale-Up
Accelerating manufacturing by catalysing investment in advanced technologies for ZEVs, scaling-up sustainable production processes.
Innovation
Funding product and process innovation of strategic and disruptive technologies for ZEVs, including digital tools and AI-driven processes.