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United Kingdom·GOV.UK

DRIVE35 Scale-Up applicants directed to APC for future funding rounds

Programme guidance specifies £4 billion through 2035. Scale-Up applicants are directed to APC for round details, while Transformation expressions of interest remain on a rolling assessment cycle.

By Taxxa AI Oy · Published 10 August 2026

Public Sector & Economy

Businesses seeking DRIVE35 Scale-Up support are directed to the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) for information on future funding rounds and how to applyGOV. The Scale-Up guidance replaces its previous statement that the Scale-Up Fund was currently open through the Innovation Funding ServiceGOV. It does not give a new opening date or application deadlineGOV.

The programme’s main guidance now specifies £4 billion of capital and research and development funding available to 2035GOV. Previously, it described £2 billion to 2030 plus £500 million of research and development funding over the following five yearsGOV. The separate business-finance listing still describes a £2.5 billion totalGOV; the programme collection and both the Scale-Up and Transformation guidance specify £4 billion to 2035GOV.

DRIVE35 supports the automotive sector’s transition to zero emission vehicle manufacturing. Applicants must be UK-registered businesses, with funding available for businesses of all sizes, including collaborations. Its Transformation, Scale-Up and Innovation pillars have individual competition streams, and the amount available to an applicant varies by stream.

The Scale-Up Feasibility Studies competition supports UK-registered businesses seeking grants for detailed feasibility studies into the deployment of UK-based manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies. These facilities can involve pilot-scale, demonstration-scale or industrial-scale manufacturing. The separate Scale-Up Fund offers UK-registered organisations a share of up to £150 millionGOV for manufacturing facility and process development at pilot or demonstration scale. Scale-Up applications are reviewed by five independent assessors; all their scores count towards the funding decision unless applicants are notified otherwise.

For larger capital projects, the DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund remains openGOV, with initial expressions of interest assessed on a two-monthly rolling basis. Eligible manufacturing investments include vehicle assembly, new or upgraded plants, batteries, electric motors and drives, power electronics, fuel cells, upstream supply chains and recycling. Supply-chain applicants can approach APC at atf@apcuk.co.uk; vehicle-assembly projects use DRIVE35.ATF@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

The Department for Business and Trade aims to respond formally to capital funding bids within 60 working days following a complete application assessmentGOV. Final funding offers remain at ministers’ discretion.

The programme basis is DRIVE35 under the Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, with application arrangements set out in its Scale-Up and Transformation guidance.

Check the APC website for future DRIVE35 Scale-Up funding rounds and application instructions before preparing a bid.

Sources

  1. DRIVE35 Funding Programme: Scale-Up
  2. Apply for automotive funding via the DRIVE35 programme
  3. DRIVE35 Funding Programme: Transformation
  4. DRIVE35 Funding Programme

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