SMMT News

Engine manufacturing output decreased 4.2% in May, with a 1.1% fall over 2014-to-date. Exports continue to grow and have accounted for over 65% of year-to-date output

Commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing output fell 32.2% in May, as restructuring impacts continue. Manufacturing down 22.8% over the year-to-date, with output for both home and export down.

Jaguar Land Rover will create a further 250 jobs at its Halewood plant, seeing the facility’s workforce treble in just four years. The additional vacancies form part of a £200 million investment by the manufacturer to produce the new Land Rover Discovery Sport.

UK car manufacturing fell 9.8% in May to 116,655 units, with days lost to spring shutdown at some plants. Year-to-date output still positive with 654,895 cars produced – a 3.5% growth. Demand for new cars in EU continues to grow, with May marking nine consecutive monthly rises.

The Automotive Investment Organisation (AIO), created to spearhead inward investment in to the UK, has achieved £457 million worth of investment since it was established in June last year. As part of UKTI and led by CEO Joe Greenwell, the…

MINI has installed more than 11,500 panels on the roof of its new bodyshop, helping to harness renewable energy to power Oxford’s MINI Plant.

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

1. SMMT holds 2014 International Automotive Summit
2. Government fund to boost manufacturing open for bids
3. Manufacturing grows at fastest rate since 2011
4. £30 million fund to boost numbers entering engineering
5. EEF: Manufacturers upgrade growth forecast
6. Week ahead

1. EU and EIB join forces to support R&I investment
2. 2015 EU draft budget adopted by Commission
3. London MEP to lead ECR Group
4. Commission points to innovation to sustain economic recovery
5. Commission adopts new rules supporting transnational projects
6. Week ahead

Over the next two weeks, the footballers of Mexico and Brazil will be facing one another in the group stages of the World Cup. While few are expecting Mexico to triumph in that encounter, the contest for the title of leading automotive producer in Latin America is much closer.