SMMT News

SMMT statement on House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report into the transition to zero emission vehicles  Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: The automotive industry shares government’s ambition for an electric revolution, a transformation that has already begun. However,…

10,064 trucks registered in the first three months of the year, up 9.5% on weak Q1 2020. Growth driven by increased demand for articulated trucks, up 25.3% to 4,528 units. Tractor and tipper registrations up 26.6% and 10.8% respectively, while…

Bus and coach registrations down -58.5% in the first three months of the year to only 582 vehicles. While all segments see double-digit decline, single-deck bus registrations continue to be worst affected, down -72.6% to just 91 units. Sector needs…

UK used car transactions fall -8.9% in Q1 2021 with 1,687,755 transactions.
Monthly performances impacted by lockdowns, but March up on particularly weak 2020.
Market for used plug-in vehicles stays strong with a 37.9% rise in Q1 transactions.

30,440 vans registered in April, the highest-ever total for the month since records began. Registrations up 23.2% on five-year average. Sector currently back at 2019 registration levels, supported by growth in large van uptake. SEE LCV REGISTRATIONS BY BRAND DOWNLOAD…

141,583 new cars registered as showrooms reopen – significantly up on April 2020 when lockdown closed retail and the nation, but still -12.9% down on decade average.
SMMT revises forecast upwards to 1.86m registrations by end of the year, up 13.9% on 2020.
Plug-in vehicles forecast to account for more than one in seven registrations in 2021.

SMMT released figures for March pre-registrations in the UK new car market. The data shows the number of cars disposed of by vehicle manufacturers in March 2021 that were defined as pre-registrations. Download the March 2021 release

March UK engine production rises 31.7% in 2021, compared with Covid-hit month a year ago. Output for domestic and overseas markets increases 50.4% and 19.9% respectively. Performance in first quarter still down -11.1%, with 534,793 engines manufactured. Mike Hawes, SMMT…

6,166 vehicles manufactured in March, up 16.9% compared to lockdown-led factory shutdowns a year ago.