SMMT News

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

1. Car manufacturing increased for first half of 2014, but CV volumes down
2. Regional Growth Fund support for SMEs trebles
3. New Highways Agency Chairman announced
4. Speed limit raised for hauliers
5. UK economy back at pre-crisis level
6. TSI appoints new board chairman
7. Week ahead

1. 2030 energy savings target proposed at 30%
2. Agreement to boost funding opportunities for SMEs
3. Commission announces €100 million Fast Track to Innovation
4. €7.75 million given to SMEs for innovation studies
5. Week ahead

Registrations rose 5.9% in first half of 2014.

West Midlands-based pressings company, Covpress has announced a £15 million investment in its Canley facility, creating 150 new jobs.

APC will become low carbon R&D centre of excellence

Engine output was steady over the first half of 2014, down just 0.9% to 1.3 million units. Volumes in June fell 0.4% to 224,792 units.

Commercial vehicle production continued to decline in June, reflecting 2013 structural changes. Volumes fell 25.4% in June and 23% over the first half of the year, with production for both home and export markets affected.

Robust first half of 2014 for UK car manufacturing, with volumes up 3.5% to 791,314 units. June output rose 3.7% to 136,419 cars, driven by 16.5% growth in production for UK market.

SMMT has published the 2014 International Automotive Summit post-event report. The event, which was held on 11 June at Canary Wharf, celebrated the recent successes of the automotive sector – including 27 consecutive months of growth (at the time of the event) and a doubling of UK export value – and explored the challenges that the industry likely to face in the future.