SMMT News

Rolls-Royce has announced that it will open a new Technology and Logistics Centre in Bognor Regis, West Sussex in 2016, safeguarding 200 jobs and creating a number of new roles.

Two thirds of small manufacturers in England feel that increasing sales in the UK will be the source of future growth for their business, according to the latest Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer. The advisory body attributed positivity in the sector to the millions of pounds that have been invested in the UK automotive industry so far this year.

So far this year, more ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) have been registered than ever before, with 59% more people choosing pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars than in 2013. The success of the UK’s lowest-emitting vehicles is thanks, in part, to Go Ultra Low, a joint industry and government campaign to educate motorists on the benefits of ULEVs.

SMMT’s weekly round-up, including all the latest news from UK automotive and a message from SMMT’s Chief Executive.

1. Car and van registrations continue to rise, with trucks down in August
2. London fleets to shape capital’s EV infrastructure
3. Medium-sized businesses to benefit from new accounting rules
4. Rolls Royce and Teach First to partner up to train 75 new STEM teachers
5. Week ahead

1. Juncker starts interviews for candidates for Commissioner
2. Industrial producer prices down in euro area
3. Mogherini and Tusk get top EU jobs
4. Priorities of the Italian Presidency on international trade
5. Week ahead

Bus and coach market shows decline of 271 units in August, but year-to-date remains stable with 0.3% drop. Purpose-built sector fell by 57.6%, with a year-to-date decrease of 6.3%. Registrations for past 12 months are strong, particularly for converted buses, with a 8.1% increase overall.

SMMT has published Electric Vehicle (EV) registration figures for August and the year-to-date.

Commercial vehicle market grows 11.9%, increasing registrations to 214,959 for the year-to-date, up 13%. Continued growth seen in van market; up 22.3% in August and 19.1% to 192,948 units for the year-to-date. Truck registrations down 22% for the year-to-date, with a fall of 22.7% in August continuing the trend. Rolling year totals remain strong, up 12.9%, fuelled by the rush in late 2013 for pre-Euro-6 vehicles.

72,163 new cars registered in August, a 9.4% rise