The SMMT's 11th annual sustainability report shows that the UK automotive industry has made "significant progress" in cutting CO2 emissions, waste and energy use.  This is despite the recent economic crisis.  Total energy use and CO2 emissions continued to fall in 2009.  The report shows progress in social, environmental and economic sectors of the industry through 2009.  Last year the industry took £23.8bn of the UK's total exports and employs over 700,000 people.   "The recent string of global investments in the UK-based development and production of low carbon technologies are indicative of the longer-term strength of the sector," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.
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