The SMMT has called for the government to swiftly introduce incentives in order to ‘convert’ those in Britain who are sceptical of the benefits of EVs. It is expected that purchase incentives would boost the market a further 15% (267,000 additional new EVs) on top of current outlooks. Under current market conditions, 1.782m new EVs will be registered between 2025 ...
Read More »February new car sales: Winners & Losers
The February new car market turned in a “subdued” performance but looking at the performance of individual brands, there were clear winners and losers for the month. In an overall market that fell -1%, Chinese brand BYD continued to surge ahead with registrations up 334.3% to 1,177 units followed by Polestar, which saw a 98.8% increase to 515 units for ...
Read More »February new car sales mark fifth consecutive month of decline
The UK new car market fell -1.0% to 84,054 units in February, the fifth consecutive month of decline. There was a 4% reduction in fleet registrations, which have driven previous market growth. Private registrations rose by 4.6% to slightly increase overall market share to 35.6%, while the smaller business sector rose by 3.3%, according to figures from the Society of ...
Read More »UK production for UK market falls 30% in January in softening market
UK vehicle production declined by -17.7% in the first month of the year, with factories turning out 71,104 cars and 6,908 commercial vehicles (CVs) for a total of 78,012 units. The performance follows a strong January last year, when car and CV output surged by 21.0% and 27.5% respectively, and reflects weakness in key markets, notably the EU, China and ...
Read More »Motor sector launches career guide for ex-Armed Forces personnel
The motor sector has launched a sector career guide for veterans in a bid to recruit more ex-Armed Forces personnel. The guide, launched by Mission Automotive in partnership with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), aims to encourage recent Forces leavers consider a new career in the automotive industry – with advice on everything from the different sectors, ...
Read More »New generation of talent key to supporting ‘green growth decade’
Top employers in the UK automotive sector are investing in a major skills drive to grow apprenticeship numbers by almost a sixth in 2025, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) at the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10-16 February). This academic year, 550 new apprentices have already joined the sector, with an additional 740 apprenticeships still ...
Read More »Demand for used EVs in 2024 hits record levels
Demand for used BEVs continued to rise in 2024, up 57.4% to a record 188,382 units year on year. BEV market share rose 2.5%, up from 1.7% in 2023 and 13 times larger than back in 2019, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Sales of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) also grew, up ...
Read More »Weakened business confidence sees van sales fall 20% in January
Light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales fell by -20.5% in January with 19,050 vans, pick-ups and 4x4s registered. The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), which released the figures, said it was the second consecutive monthly decline following strong growth in 2024. It forecast that sales would fall by -1.2% to 348,000 units against a tough economic backdrop with weakened ...
Read More »January UK new car sales: Winners & Losers
January saw new car registrations get off to a weak start, falling for the fourth consecutive month but there were contrasting performances among carmakers with winners and losers. Chinese brand BYD started 2025 as it had finished last year with the strongest performance of any brand, up 550% to 1,614 car sales. In second place was EV maker, Geely-owned Polestar ...
Read More »UK vehicle production falls below one million in 2024
UK vehicle production fell -11.8% to 905,223 vehicles in 2024 amid ‘tough economic conditions’ and structural change as factories switched from ICE to EV manufacturing. The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), which released the figures, said the latest independent production outlook expects UK car and light van production to be around 839,000 units in 2025 before rising to ...
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