Motor Trader The award-winning and longest running UK magazine for car retailing professionals. Your first stop for News, Jobs and Reports for the motor industry.
UK car manufacturing output fell by -7% in April, down to 61,820 units
Output for the UK – at 14,021 units – rose 19.8% but failed to offset a -12.7% decline in production for overseas buyers to 47,799 units, with nearly eight in 10 cars made shipped to global markets.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, which released the figures, It was the second consecutive monthly decline, reflecting factory adjustments in preparation for next generation models and their electrified powertrains.
Electrified vehicle (battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid) volumes represented 40.5%, up from 37.7%, of all production.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Another month of falling UK car production was expected given the significant transformation underway within factories as manufacturers retool to produce new models.
Ahead of the general election, SMMT is calling for the next government to adopt five key pledges set out in its Manifesto 2030 as part of a dedicated industrial strategy.
These include delivering low cost zero carbon energy, ensuring a skilled workforce fit for the future, securing free trade deals with existing and emerging markets, and backing the domestic market for new electric vehicles.
The latest independent production outlook expects UK car and light van production to fall -6.2% to some 940,000 units this year, before returning to growth in 2025 and surpassing a million units from 2026 before reaching 1.2 million later this decade.