Ryan and Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd: Government Funding for Zero-Emission Car Innovation

Securing Grant Funding for a Sustainable Future

£30M+

Secured government funding

Solutions Provided

Government Funding

Industries

Manufacturing

Location

EuropeUnited Kingdom

Ryan partnered with Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (TMUK) to deliver a winning grant application through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) DRIVE35 program, securing £15 million in government funding. Combined with matched industry funding, this unlocked a total investment exceeding £30 million.

This funding enables TMUK and other key project partners to deliver a major research and development (R&D) project to accelerate zero-emission technology that, if successful, will strengthen the supply chain and support the creation of automotive engineering jobs in the UK. The R&D project will explore the feasibility of developing a cutting-edge electric vehicle, including an integrated solar roof for enhanced efficiency; advanced connectivity for smart urban integration; and lightweight, sustainable, and innovative materials designed for recyclability.

Business Challenges

TMUK needed to secure R&D funding to:

  • Advance the feasibility of a UK-developed electric vehicle, leveraging local supply-chain partners

  • Demonstrate sustainability innovation (solar roof, recyclable materials)

  • Support UK job creation and manufacturing capacity aligned with government priorities

  • Successfully secure that funding; TMUK employed Ryan’s help to navigate the highly competitive APC DRIVE35 call to present a compelling business case, technology roadmap, consortium structure, and value proposition

Our Solutions

Ryan delivered a comprehensive, end-to-end support package, including:

Strategic Alignment: Aligned Toyota’s R&D goals with APC DRIVE35 and the UK’s industrial strategy, and demonstrated scalability to zero-emission manufacturing by 2035.

Consortium and Technical Roadmap: Identified partner roles [small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or academia], delivered project milestones, and ensured risk mitigation and resource credibility.

Business Case and Impact: Built a compelling impact model demonstrating job creation, supply chain growth, and export potential within the UK as well as commercial pathways, including recycling loops.

Grant Writing and Submission: Produced a high-quality APC DRIVE35 application, supporting TMUK through reviews, application submission, and partner documentation.

“Having Ryan onboard allowed our teams to focus on their core activities and the more technical aspects of the project. They helped us produce a professional bid that responded to the requirements and was ultimately successful.”

Senior Manager, Corporate Planning and External Affairs, TMUK