Figures released for February by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the UK new car market has grown for a 36th consecutive month – a record growth period. The new car market grew 12.0 per cent in February with 76,958 cars registered and this marks the UK’s first three straight years of increases.
SMMT figures show that commercial vehicle registrations grew 19.5 per cent in February, with 40,491 vehicles registered so far this year. Both the truck and van sectors performed well; truck registrations continue to increase as demand sees steady return to form, up 31.7 per cent in February, while there was a sustained strong performance from the van market, which rose by 19.5 per cent in the month.
The British car industry is not only alive and well – it is exporting in greater numbers than it has in years. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that exports of UK-built cars to China have increased five-fold since 2009. In 2014,137,410 cars made here were exported to China, an increase of 14.5 per cent over 2013. Only the UK bought more British-built cars than China last year, with exports to China greater than combined UK exports to Brazil, India and Russia.
The commercial vehicle market continues growth for the ninth consecutive month, up 23.2 per cent to 24,567 units, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.
SMMT figures on new car registrations showed a positive start to the year as the numbers grew 6.7 per cent in January to 164,856 units – the strongest January since 2007.
SMMT figures show that 1,528,148 cars weremanufactured in the UK in 2014 – a 1.2 per cent increase on the previous year and the best year since 2007. In addition, the strongest December in a decade saw 108,721 cars produced; up 27.1 per cent on December 2013. This growth came despite challenges in some export markets.
The SMMT says that UK engine manufacturing output returned to growth in December, rising 6.7 per cent. However, output fell 6.2 per cent over the year, following retooling at a number of facilities, although the outlook is bright, thanks to major investments into UK engine manufacturing.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that new car registrations in the UK reached a 10-year high in 2014. During the 12-month period a total of 2,476,435 new cars were registered, the highest number since 2004 and the fourth highest figure ever – only 2002, 2003 and 2004 saw a greater number of cars registered. This 2014 result was 9.3 per cent above 2013 figures and, according to results for January to November 2014, 5.7 per cent ahead of the EU average.
SMMT figures show that commercial vehicle demand grew 27.0 per cent in October to 35,027 units, driving the market up 14.1 per cent to surpass 300,000 units. Truck registrations saw a sharp upturn of 65.7 per cent to 8,457 units, marking the first month of growth for the market in 2014. Year-to-date levels remain down […]
SMMT figures reveal that new car registrations jumped 14.2 per cent in October to 179,714 units, marking the 32nd consecutive month of growth. 2,137,910 cars have been registered in the year-to-date – the first time the market has passed two million in October since 2007. Rising demand for alternatively-fuelled vehicles continued, with the market up […]
Although slightly fewer cars were manufactured in the UK last month than in September 2013, production in the first nine months of 2014 was the highest in six years. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, commented that “it is testament to the strength of the automotive industry that it continues to break records – yielding the best year-to-date performance for six years and comfortably surpassing one million units.” The reason for the “slight dip” in output in September was, he added, that some plants undertook retooling for new models; this investment, he added, will help increase future production volumes.
UK commercial vehicle production fell by 1,642 units in August as the 2014 calendar saw some plants take additional shutdown, compared to last year, for retooling according to SMMT figures.
Traditionally a fallow month ahead of the introduction of new plates, August has continued the trend of new car registration growth in the UK. Announcing the figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that 72,163 new cars were registered in August, a 9.4 per cent rise on August 2013 and the 30th consecutive month of growth. Anticipation is now growing for September, usually a far busier month on the back of the plate change.
Car production in the UK has been described as “robust” by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who report that manufacturing volumes rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year between January and June 2014 to 791,314 units. Output in the month of June was 136,419 vehicles, 3.7 per cent higher than a year earlier and a result driven by a 16.5 per cent growth in production for the UK market.
During the first six months of 2014, a total of 1,287,265 new cars were registered in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says this figure represents 10.6 per cent year-on-year growth and is the best half-year total since 2005. New car registrations rose 6.2 per cent year-on-year in June to 228,291 units. SMMT sees the market as being on track for 2.4 million new car registrations this year, more than six per cent above the 2013 figure.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.