Rolls-Royce looks to AI, nuclear tech to power its future

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report: Rolls-Royce Looks to AI and Nuclear Tech to Power Its Future

Release Date: August 13, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of the Marketplace Morning Report, host Nick Qureshi delves into the ambitious future plans of the UK engineering powerhouse, Rolls-Royce. Transitioning from its historic roots in luxury automobiles to becoming a leader in aircraft engines and defense manufacturing, Rolls-Royce is setting its sights on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear technology to redefine its market position. Additionally, the episode covers significant developments in European defense production amidst escalating global tensions.

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Rolls-Royce's Ambitious Turnaround: AI and Nuclear Technologies

A Bold Vision for the Future

Nick Qureshi opens the discussion by questioning whether Rolls-Royce could become the UK's most valuable company. He references an exclusive interview with CEO Tuvan Ergen Bilgic, highlighting the company's strategic pivot towards AI and nuclear energy.

Quotes and Insights:

• Tuvan Ergen Bilgic [00:53]: "There is no private company in the world with nuclear capab that we have. If we are not market leader globally, we did something wrong."

  Bilgic emphasizes Rolls-Royce's unique position in the nuclear sector, underscoring the company's commitment to leadership in this field.

• Nick Qureshi [00:01]: "Could Rolls Royce become the UK's most valuable company? Its CEO thinks so."

  This opening sets the stage for discussing the company's transformative strategies.

Remarkable Financial Turnaround

Simon Jack from the BBC’s New York bureau provides context on Rolls-Royce's impressive financial recovery:

• Simon Jack [00:53]: "Rolls Royce was really not in a good place about two and a half years ago. The shares are trading about for $1.30 each and now they're sort of 13 do and above. So you're talking about a thousand percent or a tenfold increase."

This tenfold surge in share value reflects investor confidence fueled by the company's strategic initiatives.

Innovative Use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

A significant part of Rolls-Royce's future strategy revolves around small modular reactors:

• Simon Jack [01:30]: "Now one of the things that has got people excited is small modular reactors. Now Rolls Royce already provides the nuclear reactors for dozens of nuclear submarines. And the idea is you just literally drag them out of the water and stick them on land and plug them into either the grid or into AI data centers."

This innovative application of SMRs aims to provide sustainable and scalable energy solutions for AI data centers, showcasing Rolls-Royce's integration of nuclear technology with cutting-edge AI demands.

AI as a Core Business Strategy

Bilgic confirms the company's alignment with AI advancements:

• Tuvan Ergen Bilgic [01:40]: "So is Rolls Royce now an AI play? In a way, yes. I mean we are, but we are..."

  Although the quote is incomplete, it indicates Rolls-Royce's substantial involvement in the AI sector, positioning itself not just as a traditional engineering firm but as a pivotal player in technological innovation.

Strategic Decisions on Market Listings

Despite the company's growth prospects, Bilgic has dismissed plans to list Rolls-Royce shares in New York:

• Tuvan Ergen Bilgic [02:32]: "Doesn't think that go to the US to do it."

This decision suggests a focus on maintaining control and leveraging existing markets rather than seeking external valuation enhancements through US stock listings.

Future Projections and Market Positioning

Simon Jack elaborates on the dual strategies propelling Rolls-Royce's growth:

• Simon Jack [02:08]: "I think that basically the excitement about small modular reactors and their application in data centers we've talked about. And also he wants to break into the $1.6 trillion narrow-bodied planes."

By targeting both energy solutions for AI and the lucrative narrow-bodied aircraft market, Rolls-Royce aims to solidify its status as a linchpin in the UK's economic landscape.

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European Defense Production Surge Amid Global Tensions

Transitioning from corporate strategies, the episode addresses the significant uptick in defense manufacturing across Europe, catalyzed by geopolitical tensions stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Increased Defense Spending and Industrial Shift

European nations are ramping up arms production, with France at the forefront:

• Thierry Charlot [04:19]: "This site has been producing SIM cards, telecoms, SIM cards. This industry is declining over long term and so we are now in this plant making a conversion towards this new."

Faced with declining civilian markets, factories are repurposing to meet defense needs, ensuring job preservation and contributing to national security.

Specific Examples of Industrial Conversion:

1. Thales Company in Normandy:

   • Celine [03:36]: "I'm controlling visually all my components one by one to see exactly where everything's been set and check the quality of my soldering."
   • Philippe Querer [05:13]: "We have hired 9,000 people over the last three years in defence capabilities in France..."

   Thales is transforming its facilities to produce components for Rafale fighter planes, demonstrating the scale and commitment of industrial shifts.

2. Renault's Strategic Shift:

   • John Laurenson [05:49]: "Another factory owned by Renault has switched from making car dashboards to military aircraft."

   Renault's pivot towards military aerospace and drone production signifies the broader trend of automotive industries entering defense manufacturing.

Acceleration of Production Capabilities:

Boris Cauchet from Silad Business Consultancy highlights the rapid scaling of defense production:

• Boris Cauchet [06:00]: "For example, the owner of the second is buying a car part factory in Brittany to start Shellcase production there."

The reduction of lead times and increased output, such as with the Caesar cannon and Aster missiles, exemplify the efficient scaling efforts in the defense sector.

Investment and Employment Growth:

• Philippe Querer [05:13]: "We have invested around 750 million euros of capex capital investments for our factories for defence in France over the last three years."

Such substantial investments underscore the commitment to expanding defense capabilities and securing economic stability through industrial transformation.

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Conclusion

This episode of Marketplace Morning Report illuminates the dynamic strategies shaping both corporate and industrial landscapes. Rolls-Royce's visionary approach to integrating AI with nuclear technology positions it as a future leader in the UK’s economy, potentially surpassing traditional giants like Shell. Concurrently, Europe’s robust shift towards defense manufacturing highlights a strategic response to global geopolitical shifts, ensuring economic resilience and enhanced security capabilities. Together, these narratives reflect a period of significant transformation driven by technological innovation and strategic realignment.

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For listeners interested in the intersection of technology, economics, and global affairs, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of pivotal developments shaping the future.

Transcript

[Nick Qureshi]

Could Rolls Royce become the UK's most valuable company? Its CEO thinks so. Live from the uk, this is the Marketplace morning report from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Nick Qureshi in for Liana Byrne. UK engineering giant Rolls Royce first made its name in luxury cars, but after selling its motor business nearly 30 years ago, is now known for its aircraft engines and defense manufacturing. And after recovering from some difficult years, it says the ever increasing demand for AI will drive the business forward. Speaking exclusively to the B, the CEO Tuvan Ergen Bilgic said it has the potential to become the UK's highest valued company by powering artificial intelligence with its nuclear reactors. But he has ruled out Rolls Royce listing its shares. In New York, the BBC's Simon Jack has been talking to him. Hi, Simon.

[Simon Jack]

Hi, Nick.

[Tuvan Ergen Bilgic]

Pretty bold claim here, isn't it, from the head of Rolls Royce.

[Simon Jack]

It's a pretty remarkable turnaround. Rolls Royce was really not in a good place about two and a half years ago. The shares are trading about for $1.30 each and now they're sort of 13 do and above. So you're talking about a thousand percent or a tenfold increase. Now one of the things that has got people excited is small modular reactors. Now Rolls Royce already provides the nuclear reactors for dozens of nuclear submarines. And the idea is you just literally drag them out of the water and stick them on land and plug them into either the grid or into AI data centers. And to fan oak. And Bilgic is pretty excited about it too.

[Tuvan Ergen Bilgic]

There is no private company in the world with nuclear capab that we have. If we are not market leader globally, we did something wrong.

So is Rolls Royce now an AI play? In a way, yes.

I mean we are, but we are.

Already is my point, he has got big ambitions. Ruling out though the idea of Rolls Royce seeking to list its shares in New York like the likes of Shell and AstraZeneca have considered in the search for higher valuations. Do you think he really believes his company could overtake the likes of Shell?

I think he really does.

[Simon Jack]

I think that basically the excitement about small modular reactors and their application in data centers we've talked about. And also he wants to break into the $1.6 trillion narrow bodied planes. That's their main business, selling aircraft engines. If those two things together can actually see Rolls Royce become the most economically important company in the uk and he.

[Tuvan Ergen Bilgic]

Doesn'T think that go to the US to do it.

Thank you so much for joining us on Marketplace, Simon.

[Simon Jack]

Pleasure, Nick.

[Nick Qureshi]

Okay, let's do Some numbers. Japan's Nikkei share index passed the 43,000 mark for the first time, driven by Wall street gains and tech stock rallies. While Brazil's president says his country will provide five and a half billion dollars to help exporters affected by steeper tariffs from the us A number of European countries have increased arms production since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and have made further commitments. Defence spending. Since President Trump returned to office, France, the world's second biggest arms exporter, has set out to double its military spending to three and a half percent of GDP by 2027. Well, now a number of civilian factories, often poorly performing ones, are being retooled to make weapons and munitions. Here's the BBC's John Laurenson.

[John Laurenson]

In a factory in Normandy, a worker called Celine peers into a microscope.

[Celine]

I'm controlling visually all my components one by one to see exactly where everything's been set and check the quality of my soldering. If there is a component that's not quite set right, it's me who replaces it.

[John Laurenson]

This factory owned by the Thales company makes hand finished printed circuit boards for Rafale fighter planes, enabling them to detect an enemy, jam its radar and destroy it. This production line started up in January. Until then, the jobs of Celine and the other 300 employees at this factory were in jeopardy. The switch to military saved them. As site manager Thierry Charlot explains, historically.

[Thierry Charlot]

This site has been producing SIM cards, telecoms, SIM cards. This industry is declining over long term and so we are now in this plant making a conversion towards this new.

[John Laurenson]

Activity, part of which is being transferred to France from Southeast Asia. Other companies are carrying out similar conversions. Two munitions factories that went civilian have now switched back to military. For example, the owner of the second is buying a car part factory in Brittany to start Shellcase production there. Another factory owned by Renault has switched from making car dashboards to military aircraft. Calcul Renault is also planning to start drone production, although that would be in Ukraine. Capacity is rising at existing facilities too. Thales director of strategy is Philippe Querer.

[Philippe Querer]

We have hired 9,000 people over the last three years in defence capabilities in France just to take that country. If you look to the investments for production, we have invested around 750 million euros of capex capital investments for our factories for defence in France over the last three years. And this was before any new stance in Europe about what is happening in the world and how we need to somehow rearm Europe.

[John Laurenson]

Other companies have been doing the same. Boris Cauchet is associate director of the Silad business consultancy that advises companies in the defence sector on how to improve profitability.

[Boris Cauchet]

So I will take three examples. The first one is the production of the Caesar cannon. It's a mobile cannon that is produced by KNDS France. The initial production rate, let's say 2023, was around 2, and now they are producing up to 12, if we take MBDA, French production of Aster missiles. In fact, they are reducing the lead time to produce one unit from 42 months to 18 months. And we can take examples of smaller companies like Tergis and Gaia, that are accelerating the tempo for the development, especially for drones.

[John Laurenson]

Back in the Thales facility in Normandy, a second production line is due to start up at the end of the year. In Pont Audomair, France, I'm the BBC's John Lawrenceon for Marketplace.

[Nick Qureshi]

And in the UK, I'm Nick Qureshi with the Marketplace morning Report from the BBC World Service. Thanks for listening.