SMMT News

Following the SMMT-JAMA joint statement on the UK and Japanese governments starting to negotiate a UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement, both organisations have today published a joint position paper on the UK and Japan trade talks currently underway.  SMMT and JAMA…

SMMT publishes statement on the Chancellor’s summer economic plan.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

Today’s announcements to safeguard jobs and encourage consumer spending in some parts of the economy are welcome – but it’s bitterly disappointing the Chancellor has stopped short of supporting the restart of one of the UK’s most important employers and a driver of growth.

UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations decline -24.8% in June. More than 30,000 vehicles registered as lockdown measures begin to ease. 108,876 new vans join UK roads in first six months, down -44.6% on same period last year. SEE LCV…

Tentative restart for UK’s new car market in June yields 145,377 registrations, a -34.9% decline reflecting uncertain economic confidence and delayed re-opening of Welsh and Scottish showrooms.
Almost quarter of a million sales to private buyers now lost since lockdown, at a cost of £1.1bn to the Treasury in VAT receipts.
Year to date registrations down -48.5%, with just 653,502 new cars joining British roads in first six months – the lowest level since 1971.

SMMT released figures for May pre-registrations in the UK new car market. The data shows the number of cars disposed of by vehicle manufacturers in May 2020 that were defined as pre-registrations. Download the May 2020 release

SMMT has been in regular discussion with government about lifting the six-month MOT extension, so it is welcome news that the provision will end on 1 August

UK Auto builds 55,836 engines in May – skyrocketing from just 830 in April, but still down -75.0% on last year. Dedicated support needed to accelerate production restart against a backdrop of subdued demand. Year-to-date production down by almost half…

810 commercial vehicles built in May, down -61.6% as many plants remain shuttered amid coronavirus lockdown.
Year-to-date production down -29.8%, compared with an already low volume May in 2019 amid key model changeovers.

British car production falls -95.4% in May with plants either closed or restarting at reduced capacity. Just 5,314 units roll off production lines as social distancing measures and market lockdowns restrict output. Year-to-date UK factories turn out 324,763 cars, down…