- British commercial vehicle manufacturing rises 9.7% in November 2016, with 9,669 built.
- Growth fuelled by overseas demand, with 40.0% uplift driving year-to-date exports past 2015 total.
- Overall year-to-date performance stable as exports growth offsets decline in the domestic market.
UK commercial vehicle manufacturing rose 9.7% in November 2016, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Production for export continues to drive growth, with nearly 75% of the 9,669 CVs built in Britain last month destined for overseas markets.
Overall year-to-date figures remain steady, with a 0.1% increase in volume compared with the same period in 2015, fuelled by a 16.0% uplift in international demand. Almost 51,000 new vans, trucks, buses and coaches have been built for foreign markets so far this year – already surpassing the number exported in the whole of 2015.1
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,
Another boost to commercial vehicle production is certainly welcome news for the sector, which was once again bolstered by a surge in exports demand, especially from the continent. Maintaining the success of British CV manufacturing is reliant on ensuring the UK remains competitive and that the beneficial trading conditions that have been vital to these positive results are preserved.
1 47,179 CVs were exported from the UK in 2015.
