- UK commercial vehicle production rises 32.8% in May 2015 with 6,808 units built in the month.
- Recovering European markets see exports surge by more than two thirds.
- Year-to-date figures remain strong, up 24.9% as demand for British CVs grows at home and abroad.
Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show a boost to UK commercial vehicle production in May 2015. 6,808 vans, trucks and buses were made in Britain last month – a 32.8% rise compared with last year. Data for the first five months of 2015 further demonstrate a CV manufacturing resurgence, with production volumes up by almost a quarter.
The sector benefitted from increasing European demand in May, as exports rose 69.4% last month with 3,710 vehicles destined for overseas markets. Half of all commercial vehicles produced to date in 2015 have been built for export.
“May’s strong figures consolidate the UK commercial vehicle manufacturing sector’s return to form, following a more subdued period over the past couple of years when changes to type approval legislation disrupted fleet renewal patterns,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “Continued demand for high quality British engineering, growing business confidence and regulatory stability have helped to fuel steady growth for both the domestic and export markets.”
Click through to download the UK CV manufacturing news release for May 2015.
