SMMT News

1. SMMT host Labour Party Conference event
2. Car, engine and CV production stalls in August
3. UKTI and EEF sign deal to boost global trade for UK manufacturers
4. New research may help to improve HGV safety
5. Siemens UK Chief Executive appointed to BIS board
6. Week ahead

1. Council discusses industrial competitiveness
2. Commercial vehicle registrations up in August
3. Truck manufacturers state recommendations for reducing CO2
4. Berlin approves incentives for electric car drivers
5. Week ahead

Find out who has joined the premier automotive trade association and what they get from membership. New members – September 2014

SMMT’s weekly round-up, including all the latest news from UK automotive and a message from SMMT’s Chief Executive.

This week, two of the UK’s most esteemed manufacturers, Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, have welcomed their intake of graduates and apprentices.

MINI is one of the most productive manufacturers in the UK, with the MINI the second-most produced car in the country.
Vehicles are assembled at MINI’s spiritual home in Oxford, on the same site where the original Austin Mini started production in 1959. Panels are produced at MINI’s pressing plant in Swindon, while a number of its engines are produced at BMW’s engine facility in Hams Hall.

As part of industry and government’s 2014 See Inside Manufacturing initiative, BMW is inviting young women to gain work experience at its UK facilities, in the second year of its Girls Go Technical initiative.

Held during the upcoming half-term holidays (23 – 31 October) the Girls Go Technical BMW work experience programme lets young women get close to the heart of BMW manufacturing at its Hams Hall engine facility, and MINI’s plants in Oxford and Swindon.

Based on results (preliminary in some cases), passenger vehicle registrations in August were down 0.4% from the year before. YTD, however, new registrations are up around 2.31 million units from the year before (up 4.6%).

UK engine manufacturing output fell 21.8% in August to 97,406 units, as the 2014 calendar saw some plants lose an additional week in the month to holiday.
Production down 3.8% so far in 2014, although export volumes have grown 4.2%.

UK commercial vehicle production fell by 1,642 units in August as the 2014 calendar saw some plants take additional shutdown, compared to last year, for retooling.
Year-to-date output down 24.6% to 45,928 units, but greater stability expected in coming months.