SMMT News

Rising new car registrations and longer lasting cars combined to push up the UK car parc by more than 436,000 units, according to a new study by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT’s ‘Motorparc’ study is the UK’s biggest automotive census and is compiled annually covering 31,917,885 cars on UK roads.

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

1. Phase 1 Trailblazer apprenticeship standards published
2. UK automotive supply chain gains £13m boost
3. Skills Minister attends SMMT and Semta National Apprenticeships Week event
4. February sees growth in new car and commercial vehicle registrations
5. Technical consultation on apprenticeship funding announced
6. Week ahead

1. Fourth round of EU-US trade talks to continue in Brussels
2. Report finds Europe more innovative but that regional differences persist
3. Commission states there is no evidence to support the safety concerns over MAC
4. Industrial producer prices down by 0.4% in the EU
5. Week ahead

A plethora of the UK’s diverse car manufacturers turned out at the Geneva Motor Show 2014 this week to show of their latest creations. The varying nature of the vehicles on display was a testament to the country’s thriving automotive industry.

Bus and coach market falls 12.1% in February to 356 units. Purpose-built sector drops 44.4% in the month, down 18.6% for the year-to-date. Converted bus market picks up, rising 31.2% in February.

Total commercial vehicle registrations grew 17.5% in February to 13,320; rolling year up 15.1% to 330,283. Vans drove CV growth with strong February performance. A 28.2% rise in the month to 11,731 registrations boosted the rolling 12 months by 13.8%.

SMMT has published Electric Vehicle (EV) registration figures for February and the year-to-date.

February new car registrations rise 3.0% to 68,736 units. UK new car market achieves 24 consecutive months of growth, increasing 17.4% over the period. Rising GDP and growing car registrations signal increasing consumer confidence. Automotive retailers look forward to March results as expectations rise for strong 14-plate performance.

A number of leading automotive manufacturers are joining forces with SMMT and Semta to showcase their pioneering apprenticeship initiatives as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2014.