UK commercial vehicle manufacturing experienced a challenging August, with 2,130 units produced in total throughout the month, leaving the sector down 43.5% on August 2013.
CV exports fell by 61.8% compared to the same month last year while output for the home market was also down by 13.2%.
This sees the overall CV manufacturing sector down 24.6% over the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2013, while the export and home markets remain behind by 27.6% and 21% respectively.
However, there is positivity to be seen, with SMMT attributing the slump to a number of plants retooling for a fresh model offensive.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said, “UK commercial vehicle production fell 43.5% in August – traditionally the year’s quietest month – as some plants took additional shutdown to retool for new models.
“We expect the recent decline to level off in the next few months as newly introduced models reach full production and the rising demand across the EU takes hold.”
One further positive sign has been the rise in demand for commercial vehicles in Europe, with registrations in the region increasing by 10.3% in June.
