SMMT News

British car manufacturing output up 9.9% in April with 66,527 units rolling off factory lines. Exports surge 14.7% in the month with more than eight in 10 UK-made cars heading overseas. Sector calls for pragmatic solution to solve UK-EU rules…

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive: The UK-EU TCA provided the basis for tariff-free trade and unlocked some pent-up investment. However, the rules of origin for batteries pose a significant challenge to manufacturers on both sides of the Channel, with the…

UK demand for new buses and coaches declines slightly -0.6% in Q1 2023, some -39.7% below the pre-pandemic five-year average. Single and double deck bus and coach sectors rally, up 89.1% and 55.2% respectively, but falling minibus registrations and ongoing…

UK new HGV registrations rose by 17.1% to 11,517 units in Q1 2023, the best start to a year since pre-pandemic 2019. Double digit growth for rigid and articulated trucks, with volumes up 17.3% and 16.8% respectively. Industry calls for…

Bus operator Go-Ahead unveiled commemorative buses in London and South West England to mark the coronation of Their Majesties Kings Charles III and Queen Camilla. In Devon, a red, white and blue Plymouth Citybus double-decker with festive bunting took to…

UK used car market grows 4.1% in Q1 2023 after three successive quarters of decline. Best start to a year since 2020, but market remains below pre-pandemic levels. BEV sales up 56.5% as 26,257 change hands, representing 1.4% of the…

New van registrations rise 4.9% to reach 22,665 units in April. 109,937 new vans registered during first four months of the year, closing the gap to -13.7% on pre-pandemic levels. Growing confidence bolsters outlook to 15.4% growth on 2022, but…

New car market records ninth consecutive month of growth, up 11.6% Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) take 15.4% market share, with additional investment needed for more drivers to make the switch. SMMT upgrades 2023 outlook from 1.79m units to 1.83m as…

CV production falls -3.0% to 9,822 units in March, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. Both home and export volumes down in the month, falling -2.8% and -3.2% respectively. Output rises 1.1% in the year to date due to strong…

UK car production up 6.0% in first quarter of 2023 to 219,887 units as supply shortages begin to ease. March output rises 6.1% to 81,605 units with 10.4% exports growth offsetting -5.1% home market decline. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery…