A Look at What Would Happen to the Automotive Industry – and other Industries – if Scotland had Gained Independence

Many things would have changed if Scotland had voted for its independence from the UK. Whilst the voters have cast their votes, it is interesting to see how things might have turned out had it gone the other way.

The effect of independence on Scotland’s public and private sectors 

For sure, many sectors – both public and private – in Scotland would have been affected by independence. Take the changes in international phone calls, for instance, which would have affected Scottish-based telecommunications companies. If Scotland had voted for independence, then the +44 used for international calls would no longer be used in Scotland. Telecommunications companies would have to work closely with the government in determining what international call prefix to use.

Another sector that would be affected by independence would be the diplomatic sector – e.g., the embassies. Great Britain has 191 consulates and embassies around the world. If Scotland had become independent, then we would have to establish new representation in the diplomatic sector. In consequence, if a Scottish resident or citizen were to need help whilst in another country, where could they turn? Would they still be accepted at the British embassies, or would they have to look for help elsewhere?

The effect of Scottish independence on the automotive industry

When it comes to the automotive industry, several changes would have occurred as well. One of the smallest – yet presenting a significant hassle – is the issue of domain name suffixes. Imagine having an automotive parts dealer in Scotland with a website under the .co.uk suffix. If there had been a change, then that automotive dealer would have had to change their website suffix. But there is a further problem with this, as Scotland’s prospective names have already been taken by other countries – the Seychelles has .sc, South Sudan has .sd, Sierra Leone has .sl, and Sao Tome already has .st.

Another problem that could arise from Scottish independence related to the automotive industry is this: licence plates. This could be seen as a minor problem by certain sectors, but for those involved in the motoring sector (both public and private) it could spell a big bureaucratic headache. Keep in mind that Scotland currently has 2.7 million vehicles – so that amounts to plenty of new licence plates. Organising this type of change can be challenging, and updating each and every vehicle is a massive undertaking indeed.
One major issue that has repeatedly sprung up in debates over Scottish independence is the British pound. If Scotland had won its independence, there would have been a number of problems with Scotland’s currency. Some experts have warned that this could spell trouble similar to the financial trouble experienced by countries in the eurozone when it was established. Whilst the issue of Scottish currency is still being settled, this would have spelled difficulties for the automotive industry, as consumers would have put a halt on their spending for vehicles and other services whilst still dealing with a new currency. As a result, the automotive industry would have suffered some loss in profit – along with other industries – as well.

The good news, however, is that this has not come to pass. So we can all rest easy and breathe a sigh of relief. And if you are looking to replace your old vehicle with a new one, you need not worry – the state of the economy is as stable as ever. If you want to save money whilst spending on a good purchase, you can opt for used cars in Inverness. You can choose from a full range of used cars in Inverness with affordable pricing and financing, generous warranties, and full service options.