UK commercial vehicle manufacturing remains in decline

While UK car output provided good news for the industry, commercial vehicles remained in steep decline, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show. CV output dropped 27.5 per cent in September to 6,963 units, meaning 67,609 CVs have been produced in 2013 to date, down 17.9 per cent from 2012. The SMMT said weak Eurozone demand and earlier domestic restructuring have contributed to this decline.

“CV production remained subdued in September, with continuing uncertainty in the EU and restructuring of UK operations,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. “While the overall market is striving against tough conditions, there remains cause for optimism in some areas, with the truck sector out-performing the market in September.”