Manufacturing figures for November were released this week, showing a significant -19.6% drop in UK production compared with the same month last year, driven primarily by a reduction in cars built for export abroad but exacerbated by declining consumer and…

For much of the latter part of the year, every week has been seen as a ‘crunch’ week in the progress of Brexit negotiations, with tough decisions needing to be made and the stakes getting ever higher. Without consensus in…

It has been a tumultuous year for new car registrations, with many factors conspiring to depress the market at a time when it needs stability. But we have reason to be confident despite the declining registration figures, because the range…

UK new car market down -3.0% in November to 158,639 units, reflecting uncertainty, falling consumer confidence and supply constraints. Growth for petrol and alternatively fuelled vehicles fails to offset further fall in diesel demand. Year-to-date more than 2.2 million new…

This week SMMT brought together 10 companies on the UK pavilion at Automechanika Shanghai. With an estimated 140,000 visitors coming along to the show, Automechanika has once again proven to be a busy and successful event for the UK delegates.…

We released the results of a survey of our members this week that showed three-quarters of UK automotive businesses warning that a ‘no-deal’ Brexit will threaten their future viability. Half of respondents said they had already been hit by uncertainty…

SMMT and the Advanced Propulsion Centre are taking a group to China from 9-16 January 2019 for the EV100 conference and a programme of calls on Chinese OEMs and automotive companies. A limited number of travel grants are available –…

Nothing concentrates the mind like a deadline – after an erratic 18 months of speeches, positioning and negotiation since Article 50 was invoked and the UK gave notice of its intention to leave the European Union, recent weeks have seen the developments come thick…

The Department for International Trade and SMMT are set to host a joint networking reception at the CES Las Vegas show on Wednesday 9 January from 4.30-6.30pm* and all UK companies at the show are invited to attend. The time…

Whatever you might think of the withdrawal agreement that the Prime Minister and her team have negotiated, that we finally have progress and a proposal to avoid the devastating consequences of a no-deal Brexit following more than 18 months of…