SMMT News

106,398 UK engines produced in August as output falls -35.1%.

Some 641 fewer vehicles produced in the month than the previous year, which marked the strongest August since 2012.

UK car production declines -44.6% in August with 51,039 units rolling off factory lines.
Ongoing coronavirus crisis stalls efforts to ramp up output with weak demand overseas compounded by heavy domestic losses.
Production so far this year down -40.2% with a loss of 348,821 units worth more than £9.5bn to UK car makers.
As pandemic’s second wave engulfs UK, sector welcomes new support for jobs but warns that demand-hit manufacturing sector not yet out of woods.

The Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme is welcome and should provide temporary relief for the automotive sector

EU and UK automotive leaders unite to call for urgent agreement of an ambitious free trade deal before the end of the transition period in just 15 weeks’ time.
New calculations show the catastrophic impact of ‘no deal’ with WTO tariffs putting production of some 3 million EU and UK built cars and vans at risk over next five years.
‘No deal’ would mean combined EU-UK trade losses worth up to €110 billion to 2025, on top of around €100 billion in lost production value so far this year because of coronavirus crisis.

SMMT welcomes today’s agreement in principle of a Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement

UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations decline by -16.1% during the traditional ‘quiet’ month for registrations 19,407 vans registered as businesses await plate change month and clarity over economic outlook YTD sales down -36.4%, equivalent to almost 90,000 units. SEE…

New car registrations decline -5.8% during traditionally quiet pre-plate change month. Private car demand remains relatively steady, down -1.7%, with 699 fewer registrations, but fleet and business purchases drop by more substantial -5.5% and -57.9% respectively. Sales of zero emission-capable…

Huge investment in electric vehicle choice is driving demand, but nearly half of motorists still not ready for a 2035 switch, with higher purchase prices and charging concerns holding buyers back.
SMMT calls for zero tax on zero emission-capable cars, including plug-in hybrids, alongside long-term commitment to the Plug-in Grant to drive as many as 2.4 million sales in the five years to 2025.