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Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
UK car production hits lowest point in more than 70 years
Car production in the UK fell to its lowest level in more than 70 years last month, with experts citing the impact of Trump tariffs as well as the Easter break – and warning that the UK car industry is in a 'low-volume crisis'. April saw just 59,203 new cars built in the UK, which represents a 16 per cent drop compared with the same month last year. It's also the lowest April output figure since 1952, with the exception of 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdown, in which production was effectively halted. Advertisement - Article continues below With April's production figures also a quarter down on March, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) pointed to the Easter break, as well as production changeovers which saw pauses in output. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes described the past few months as the 'toughest start to the year since 2009', stating that 'urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness'. Hawes continued: 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment, which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.' However, it's important not to downplay the impact of US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on automotive imports when discussing the UK's production figures; exports to America fell by just over 10 per cent last month. Professor of Business Economics at the University of Birmingham, David Bailey, told Auto Express that the UK car industry is in 'a low- volume crisis, operating well below capacity and hence with higher cost'. Bailey stated: 'The UK industry is not alone in the pressures it faces, but the Trump tariffs have had a particular impact on [the] UK auto [sector], given the success of British premium and luxury brands in selling into the US.' The solution to all this? Bailey called on the Government to publish and set out its delayed industrial strategy 'sooner rather than later'. He said: 'It's vital to help advanced manufacturing – and automotive – on a range of issues like attracting investment into making EVs, rebuilding the supply chain (including for batteries), retraining and reskilling workers and cutting energy costs.' Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews...
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
UK vehicle production decline hits record low in April 2025: SMMT
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed a 15.8% drop in UK car and commercial vehicle production in April 2025. For the month, 59,203 units were manufactured, marking the lowest April output since 1952, barring the exceptional circumstances in 2020 during the first Covid lockdown. Car production in the UK experienced an 8.6% decline, totalling 56,534 units, influenced by the later timing of Easter, model changeovers, and reduced demand from key export markets. The commercial vehicle sector registered a decline of 68.6% to 2,669 units, primarily due to a plant closure and a return to normal demand levels for new heavy goods vehicles after a period of intense post-pandemic growth. Exports of cars saw a 10.1% drop, with the EU and US markets showing declines of 19.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Despite these drops, the EU remained the largest export destination, receiving more than half of all UK car exports, while the US accounted for 16.5%. In contrast, exports to China and Turkey increased by 44% and 31.2%, the report said. Commercial vehicle exports plummeted by 75.8%, with just over half of the production being sent abroad. Despite a 78.9% reduction in shipments, the EU continued to be the primary export market, accounting for 84.9% of the total. Domestic commercial vehicle output also saw a downturn, falling by 54.6%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 'With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness. 'Government has recognised automotive manufacturing's critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month. 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities, we must secure additional investment, which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.' The industry is now awaiting the government's industrial strategy, which is expected to include measures to enhance the competitiveness of the UK's most valuable export sector, the body said. Last week, the SMMT reported a 49.8% surge in public service vehicle registrations in the UK in Q1 2025, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of growth. "UK vehicle production decline hits record low in April 2025: SMMT" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Top Gear
a day ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
UK car production falls to its lowest level in 73 years (if you don't count lockdown)
Business SMMT figures show historical low for making cars in Blighty Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading How's business? Last month spelled some pretty rubbish news for UK vehicle production, with April's numbers flagging by a chunky 15.8 per cent. That's the lowest level since 1952, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures – at least if you don't count lockdown. And why would you? That first pandemic measure pretty much entirely halted production. These – believe it or not – are more usual times, and yet 59,203 units (down from 70,319 in 2024) does not a pretty penny make. Advertisement - Page continues below You might like SMMT boss Mike Hawes said: 'With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness. 'Government has recognised automotive manufacturing's critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month. Advertisement - Page continues below 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK." Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Car factories in the UK record lowest output in over 70 years
Car production took a hefty hit last month hitting a 70-year low. Just 59,203 vehicles were made in April as car and commercial vehicle production fell by 15 per cent, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. The number of cars rolling off UK assembly lines dropped by 8.6 per cent, while the output of vans and commercial vehicles slumped by a massive 68.8 per cent, marking the lowest April since 1952 - the year Elizabeth II became Queen. The SMMT is hoping that new trade deals with the EU, US and India will provide opportunities for future growth, but chief executive Mike Hawes is pushing for 'additional investment' such as the reported £41million Toyota will spend building its GR Corolla hot hatch in Derbyshire. April's slump of 16 per cent compared to the same month last year, and the 25 per cent drop on March when numbers were helped by an increase in shipments to the US before Trump's tariffs took effect, cap off the sector's lowest start to a year since 2009. Critically, car export production fell by 10.1 per cent, caused by falls in demand to Britain's best markets, the EU and US. Exports to the EU fell 19.1 per cent, while US exports fell by 2.7 per cent, although the EU still took more than half of all exports while the US received 16.5 per cent. Conversely, exports to China and Turkey rose by 44 per cent and 31.2 per cent respectively. There were fewer production days in the month due to Easter falling between 18 and 20 of the month, which reduced April's output compared to the rise in output in March, the SMMT said. Amid economic uncertainty and rapidly changing global trading conditions, the SMMT has stressed the need for the government's eagerly awaited industrial strategy to 'contain measures that boost the competitiveness of Britain's most valuable export sector'. April 1952 was the last time motor outputs were that low - that year, 53,517 vehicles were produced. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: 'With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness. 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy.' However, industry sources have reason to be optimistic with some new investment in UK car manufacturing announced recently. This is Money reported yesterday that Toyota is looking to invest £41million building the GR Corolla hot hatch at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire to capatilise on the sizeable market in the US and reduce wait times to its North American customers. It's also a sign of Britain's attractiveness to firms as the UK-US trade deal – the US has reduced tariffs from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for up to 100,000 UK-made cars per year - makes the UK a desirable place to set up factories and 'act as a bridge between the US and EU'. Struggling car maker Nissan recently confirmed that its new Leaf and Juke EVs will be built at its Sunderland plant before the end of next year, a positive sign for the future of the UK's biggest car factory which employs around 6,000 people. The Government followed with an announced that it will give a £1billion loan to Nissan to secure jobs as the Japanese manufacturer embarks on a £1.3bn cost-saving plan which will see seven plants close globally and 20,000 jobs culled.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs help push U.K. auto sector to worst production figures in more than 70 years
The U.K.'s auto sector is reeling from its worst month for production since 1952—when the Morris Minor ruled the country's roads and Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne—as Trump's tariff war added to a bearish environment for the country's biggest carmakers. U.K. plants producing cars like Range Rovers, Bentleys, and Toyotas pumped out 59,200 models in April, marking the lowest monthly output figure in more than 70 years, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Carmakers are set for their worst start to the year in production terms since 2009 and the depths of the Great Recession. Commercial vehicle exports fell by more than 75% in April as automakers digested the fallout of Donald Trump's tariffs on the car industry and his more sweeping plans announced on 'Liberation Day.' Cars bound for the U.S., which took around a sixth of the U.K.'s car exports, experienced a slight decline in April, with EU exports fuelling the biggest drop. U.K. luxury carmakers, including Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, were regarded as being particularly vulnerable to a trade war because much of their appeal comes from keeping most production from its historic local plants. Jaguar Land Rover said in early April that it would be pausing U.S. shipments while it assessed the fallout from Trump's tariff announcements. The carmaker sold more than 128,000 cars to the States, its biggest market, in 2024. The end of March also marked the closure of Stellantis-owned Vauxhall's factory in Luton, where the carmaker employed more than 1,000 workers. Employees at the 120-year-old factory faced a stark ultimatum: a 140-mile relocation north or accepting a redundancy package. A calendar quirk of the Easter break falling later in 2025, which accordingly shuttered production for an extra two days over the bank holiday, also contributed to depressed production figures, the SMMT said. Indeed, March production figures showed nearly 80,000 vehicles being produced in the U.K. that month. April's awful production figures are likely to be an anomaly, and not just owing to the quirk of the calendar. Earlier in May, the U.K. and U.S. hammered out a landmark trade deal that would see import tariffs on cars to the States reduced from 25% to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles. The development is expected to prevent a lot of pain in the U.K. auto market, and SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes is taking a victory lap after demonstrating the sector's influence on the U.K.'s international relations. 'Government has recognised automotive manufacturing's critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month,' said Hawes. 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.' This story was originally featured on
