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UK car production down 27.3% – 17th month of decline

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car production fell 27.3 per cent year-on-year in January to 86,052 units. This is the worst January performance since 2009, when UK factories made just 61,404 cars, and the drop of 32,262 units represents the 17th consecutive month of decline. The SMMT attributes January’s weak output to multiple factors, including the ongoing effects of the pandemic, global supply chain issues, extended shutdowns and friction in the new trading arrangements following the end of the Brexit transition period.

2nd March 2021/by Stephen

January UK van registrations rise two per cent

Market Info, UK News

The UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market enjoyed growth in the first month of the year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Registrations rose 2.0 per cent in January with 24,029 of the latest, low emission vehicles hitting UK roads as new models and deals drove fleet renewal. Although the fluctuating nature of fleet renewal often impacts the first month of the year in particular, 2021 opened with the highest volume January since 1990, 10.5 per cent ahead of five-year average.

4th February 2021/by Peter Gardner

January new car sales worst for fifty years

Market Info, UK News

January proved to be a traumatic month for new car sales in the UK, as the market fell -39.5 per cent in the month with 59,030 fewer registrations compared to January last year, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Just 90,249 cars were registered as showrooms across the country remained shut, leading to the worst start to the year since 1970.

4th February 2021/by Peter Gardner

UK LCV market finishes year down -20.0 per cent

Market Info, UK News

Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that UK new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations ended 2020 down -20.0 per cent, with the van market rounding off the year in decline following three months of growth. 292,657 vehicles were registered in 2020, as the impact of Covid and uncertainty over the future relationship with the EU brought down demand toward the end of the year, with registrations in the final month of the year dropping -1.0 per cent, albeit with volumes consistent with previous Decembers.

6th January 2021/by Peter Gardner

UK car manufacturing down 18% in October

According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car manufacturing output fell 18.2 per cent in October. 110,179 units left UK factories during the month, 24,490 fewer cars than were made in October 2019, with the impact of coronavirus and fresh lockdowns at home and overseas subduing demand in many key markets.

26th November 2020/by Stephen

SMMT: CJRS extension welcome, but showrooms must stay open

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a five-month extension to the furlough scheme is good news for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes described the decision to prolong the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), which pays employees 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500, a “welcome lifeline” in a challenging environment of car showroom closures and lockdown. But he stresses that government support won’t suffice to keep the country’s vehicle manufacturers afloat.

6th November 2020/by Stephen

UK car production: “worst September for 25 years” says SMMT

UK car production fell in September, with output down -5.0 per cent, to register the worst performance for the month in 25 years, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories turned out 114,732 cars, a decline of some 6,000 units on the same month in 2019, as companies continued to wrestle with the uncertain economic and political environment and Covid-related challenging global market conditions.

29th October 2020/by Peter Gardner

SMMT: Deal with EU necessary to support green momentum

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has again urged both sides to re-engage the Brexit negotiation process with vigour in order to achieve a satisfactory deal. Bringing its latest calculations to the table, the industry association stresses that ‘no deal’ is a high stake gamble not only for the automotive sector but also for hopes of a green recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

23rd October 2020/by Stephen

Addressing the EV ‘charging anxiety’ problem

Legislation, UK News

We are continually being told that electric vehicles are the future – indeed, petrol and diesel-engined vehicles are scheduled to be phased out in the UK market; the original deadline was 2040, but this was brought forward to 2035, and there is talk of possibly introducing the ban in 2030. This last date is regarded by many as unachievable – when the deadline was brought forward to 2035, Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, described the situation as “extremely concerning” and accused the Government of “moving the goalposts.”

21st September 2020/by Peter Gardner

UK car production on the rise, but output still 20% down in July

According to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car manufacturing output fell 20.8 per cent in July, with just 85,696 units rolling off production lines during the month. Despite the continued ramp-up of production and reopening of almost all factories following the easing of lockdown measures, social distancing measures and ongoing economic uncertainty still stifled output. Today’s figures follow news that BMW intends to lay off 400 of the 950 agency personnel working at its Mini factory in Oxford.

27th August 2020/by Stephen

UK government announces Automated Lane Keeping System call for evidence

Legislation, UK News

The UK is taking steps forward in automated technology in vehicles with the launch of a call for evidence on 18 August 2020 to help shape how innovative new systems could be used in future on GB roads. The call for evidence will look at the Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) – an automated system that can take over control of the vehicle at low speeds, keeping it in lane on motorways.

21st August 2020/by Andrew

HGV & bus/coach registrations plummet more than 70%

Stagecoach Group plc

The UK’s new heavy goods vehicle (HGV) market declined by 73.4 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that 4,151 units were registered between 1 March and 30 June 2020. Just 328 buses and coaches joined UK roads during the quarter.

18th August 2020/by Stephen

First LCV market growth since January

Market Info, UK News

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has announced the first growth month for the UK’s light commercial vehicle (LCV) market since January. There was a 7.1 per cent increase in registrations in July, with 27,701 new LCVs joined Britain’s roads.

6th August 2020/by Andrew

Pent-up demand helps UK new car registrations up 11.3%

New car registrations rose for the first time this year in July. The figure rose 11.3 per cent in the month, year-on-year, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures. 174,887 cars were registered in July 2020, supported by the first full month of trading for dealerships since February. July 2019 registrations were affected by declining business and consumer confidence undermined the market. Pent-up demand and special offers led to a reprieve for the sector, but overall registrations are still down by -41.9 per cent or 598,054 units year-to-date. Despite the increase in July, SMMT’s full year outlook is for a -30 per cent decline in registrations, representing more than £20 billion of lost sales.

5th August 2020/by Andrew

UK commercial vehicle output falls -24.8% in 2020 to date despite June growth

Product News, UK News

UK commercial vehicle production increased 23.9 per cent in June year-on-year, but this was not enough to mitigate first-half contraction in 2020. Figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 4,144 vans, trucks and buses left production lines last month. The increase appears particularly strong because it follows a particularly weak June 2019, when output fell by more than half due to key model changeovers. Despite this production ramp-up, the first six months of 2020 saw total output decline by -24.8 per cent, on the same period in 2019, due to the pandemic lockdown of global markets.

30th July 2020/by Andrew