DRIVE35 Demonstrate

DRIVE35 Demonstrate

Funds automotive teams developing zero-emission demonstration vehicles from research through commercial scale-up.

DRIVE35 Demonstrate is a competitive grant program administered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), a Coventry-based organization co-funded by UK government and industry whose mission is to accelerate the UK automotive sector's transition to net-zero. The Demonstrate competition targets the mid-stage of the development pipeline, funding the construction of a product or process demonstrator within a compressed 9-to-12-month delivery window. Three eligible project themes define the scope: zero-emission vehicle innovations, manufacturing competitiveness improvements, and software-defined vehicles and electronic/electrical architectures. Projects must advance from TRL 4 entry to TRL 5–6 or from MRL 3 to MRL 4–5 by project close.

For the 2026 cycle, awards range from £500,000 to £1,500,000 per project at a minimum 50% match-funding requirement, meaning applicants must contribute at least half of total eligible project costs. Eligible applicants are UK-based companies — either single entities or collaborative teams — at an early development stage. Only for-profit businesses are eligible; academic institutions, charities, and nonprofits cannot lead applications. Applications open on June 15, 2026 and close on September 16, 2026, subject to UK government approval. An in-person interview is required as part of the selection process.

APC runs the Demonstrate competition twice annually, providing a regular funding cadence for qualifying teams. Companies interested in applying are encouraged to contact APC directly before the window opens to discuss project scope alignment. The 9-to-12-month delivery constraint means staffing and supply-chain arrangements must be fully in place at the point of award; teams that have not secured key personnel or manufacturing partners risk failing delivery milestones, which are tied to payment.