British car manufacturing rose 7.8 per cent in July, with 136,397 new units rolling off UK production lines, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Major carmakers ramped up production for new and existing models in the month ahead of summer factory shutdowns, which provide an essential period for plant maintenance, upgrades and re-tooling.
The SMMT has issued a statement in response to government’s announcement on future customs arrangements.
Registrations of new buses and coaches fell -15.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2017, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 2,105 units were registered in the period, with demand falling for the second time this year following five consecutive quarterly rises in registrations. This decline also follows a particularly strong Q2 2016, when the market grew by 26.9 per cent on the previous year.
Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today show that the UK new car market has declined for a third consecutive month. A total of 243,454 new cars were registered in June, and while this figure represents a decline, registrations fell at a slower pace than in the previous two months, by 4.8 per cent, as demand continued to stabilise following a record first quarter and the subsequent market turbulence caused by the recent changes to Vehicle Excise Duty. The SMMT adds that the market is now “more in line” with 2017 forecasts.
Automechanika Birmingham 2017 represented the perfect opportunity for the UK’s automotive aftermarket to gather as higher technology vehicles continue to push up turnover by 2.4 per cent in 2016. 800 such companies were present at the Birmingham NEC for this year’s show. The aftermarket accounted for £21.6 billion in turnover – a figure boosted by the presence of the more high tech vehicles on Britain’s road in addition to recent record months in new car registrations. Additionally the increasing demand for digital services has helped to boost the online side of the segment, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which reported the latest figures, states that more car parts, accessories and services are bought online than cosmetics or groceries. Tyres, alongside lubricants and filters, are the most commonly replaced part, and help account for some of the growth in digital sales, though demand for digital devices, including telematics and tyre pressure sensors, has grown fastest. Overall, the SMMT states that the automotive sector makes a contribution to the UK economy of £12.5 billion.
The light commercial vehicle market (LCV) declined in May following a period of exceptionally strong demand, according to figures released by SMMT. 26,982 new vans hit British roads in May, representing a fall of 5.3 per cent.
The UK used car market got off to a strong start in 2017 with a record number of vehicles sold in the UK in the first quarter, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 2,133,956 used cars changed hands in the first three months of the year, 3.4 per cent more than in 2016, resulting in the biggest-ever first quarter volume seen.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that the UK new car market experienced a significant decline in April, following exceptional growth in the previous month as buyers brought forward purchases ahead of the switch to new VED rates, which came into force on 1 April 2017. The figures show that 152,076 new cars were registered in April, a -19.8 per cent decline.
Registrations of new light commercial vehicles decreased in April, falling 18.8 per cent to 22,625 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The performance follows a period of rapidly growing levels of demand, with registrations in April 2016 the highest on record.
Exports continued to drive British car manufacturing in March, as demand rose 10.6 per cent in the month, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 170,691 cars were built in the UK last month, up 7.3 per cent, with overseas buyers ordering more than 76 per cent of output. The month’s output exceeds that of March 2000, when 183,787 cars were built in the UK.
It isn’t just the trade that opposes potential changes to current MOT legislation. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published the results of a YouGov survey, and these results indicate that a large majority of car owners want the MOT first test to continue taking place when their vehicle reaches three years of age.
Diesel powered cars have gained a lot of press since the Volkswagen emissions scandal became public knowledge in 2015, and much of this has been negative. The Government is now considering measures that will discourage the use of diesel cars, with disincentives such as a ‘toxins tax’ or banning polluting vehicles from city centres a possibility. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) believes such steps don’t do the latest generation of diesel vehicles justice, and has issued a list of ten facts it hopes will inform motorists about diesels:
The UK new car market grew by 8.4 per cent in March. A total of 562,337 new cars were registered during the month, an amount that, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), is the highest monthly figure since records began. Registrations reached new heights as buyers seized the chance to buy cars before the new vehicle excise duty (VED) rates came into force. Under the new system implemented on 1 April, all new cars (except for those with zero emissions) are subject to an annual flat rate charge.
April 2017’s CV Show looks set to mark an important event in the tyre business year, with a strong showing for the industry reflecting both the resilience shown in the UK commercial vehicle sector in 2016 and the potential opportunities offered by the coming period of political change. SMMT registration figures reveal that 2016 was a better year than might have been expected in the haulage and people transportation segments.
Not only is Automechanika Birmingham 2017 set to be 70 per cent bigger than last year’s inaugural show, this year’s event seeks to connect the aftermarket with industry and government to support inward investment. Speaking at a press conference in central London on 9 March, Automechanika Birmingham event director Simon Albert and SMMT chief executive shared how they will bring the UK automotive industry together as part of efforts to “boost supply chain reshoring and make British cars more British” while at the same connecting the manufacturing and aftermarket sectors with each other.
UK vehicle manufacturing output has continued to grow over recent
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