- UK commercial vehicle manufacturing rose 36.8% in April with 8,629 vans, trucks and buses built.
- 32,064 CVs produced so far in 2015 – an increase of 23.6%.
- Exports surge 50.1% in April as EU market recovery continues.
Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show an uplift in UK commercial vehicle production in April, with output up 36.8% on the same month last year. Following restructuring in the market, productivity has returned to form, with year-to-date growth of almost a quarter at 23.6%. Volumes have also been driven by rising demand from operators in the UK – and increasingly across Europe too.
While the production increase in the first quarter was built mainly on growth in the UK market, April saw a 50.1% surge in manufacture for export. This is evidence that the UK is taking advantage of a rallying European market, with CV registrations across the EU having risen 13% so far this year*.
“These figures are further evidence that commercial vehicle manufacturing in the UK has turned a corner after a period of restructuring,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “April’s significant rise in exports is particularly encouraging, as the industry capitalises on increasing demand for vans, trucks and buses across Europe.”
*ACEA statistics
Click through to download the UK CV manufacturing news release for April 2015.
