SMMT Archives - Page 11 of 45 - Tyrepress

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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

Auto analysts comment on ‘perfect storm’ for car sector

Market Info, UK News

Car industry analysts have outlined the compound challenge facing the UK’s car sector following the publication of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ half-year figures. The stats show that the first half of 2020 yielded the lowest level of UK car manufacturing since the 1950s. Edwin Kemp, head of automotive strategy at KPMG, commented that the SMMT’s June 2020 new car manufacturing analysis is a harbinger for businesses’ likely descent into insolvency throughout the automotive supply chain. Peter Barnes, head of automotive at global legal business, DWF, added that the challenges facing the UK automotive industry add up to a perfect storm for the sector.

30th July 2020/by Andrew

UK car production down -42.8%, 11,000 jobs lost in coronavirus crisis

Market Info, UK News

UK car manufacturing output declined -48.2 per cent in June, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures reveal. Only 56,594 units were produced in the month. The SMMT revealed that the 381,357 cars produced in the first half of 2020 represent the weakest six months of UK manufacturing since 1954. This is -42.8 per cent down on 2019’s first half, with more than 285,000 units fewer produced. 11,349 jobs have been lost across manufacturing and retail during the pandemic. The SMMT warns that the fear of Brexit tariffs could endanger more jobs without dedicated restart support. The society called for greater urgency in talks to secure an ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union. Its latest survey data shows nine in 10 firms are missing clarity of information to allow them to prepare for the end of the transition to the new ongoing relationship between the UK and EU.

30th July 2020/by Andrew

Peak petrol – has UK hit auto landmark unnoticed?

Market Info, UK News

Following the SMMT’s June round of car registrations figures, analyst Deloitte wonders if there is cause to think a UK automotive landmark has passed. While much of the focus has been on the historic depths the country’s car sales have hit, the proportional demand for hybrid and electric vehicles has continued to rise at pace. Michael Woodward, UK automotive lead, Deloitte, said: “The automotive industry is taking positive steps towards recovery from the impact of COVID-19. Socially-distanced showrooms have been reopened in England for a full month, and factory production is ramping up again, in some cases faster than expected.

6th July 2020/by Andrew

Cautious optimism on car sales from NFDA

Commenting on the SMMT car registration figures, Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK, said: “Pent-up demand helped sales during the first weeks, but the market will need to be monitored closely to support the sector over the coming months”

6th July 2020/by Andrew

Van market shrinks -24.8 per cent in June – SMMT

Market Info, UK News

UK new car registrations fell -34.9 per cent in June, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) as the market began a tentative restart after more than two months of lockdown. The drop was an improvement on May’s -89.0 per cent wipe-out but, with 145,377 new car registrations, this still represented a significant decline of 78,044 compared with June 2019, as dealerships in Wales and Scotland remained closed for much of the month.

6th July 2020/by Andrew

UK new car market down a third as tentative restart reveals subdued demand

Market Info, UK News

UK new car registrations fell -34.9 per cent in June, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) as the market began a tentative restart after more than two months of lockdown. The drop was an improvement on May’s -89.0 per cent wipe-out but, with 145,377 new car registrations, this still represented a significant decline of 78,044 compared with June 2019, as dealerships in Wales and Scotland remained closed for much of the month.

6th July 2020/by Andrew

Britishvolt appoints Charles Morgan to advisory board

Career Tracks, Company News, International News, UK News

Britishvolt has appointed automotive specialist Charles Morgan, to both its advisory board and board of directors, as a non-executive director.

Charles Morgan, whose grandfather founded world-renowned British brand Morgan in 1909, combines his automotive heritage with a deep global industry knowledge, and a passion for a sustainable, green future. In his new role, he will become a valuable contributor in guiding Britishvolt to realising the full potential of the UK automotive supply chain. Considering his experience in automotive production, the news is reminiscent of earlier analysis that gigafactory battery production could be poised to replace lost OE vehicle construction in the UK post-Brexit and now in the post-corona context.

23rd June 2020/by Chris

New car registrations worst since 1952

Following the SMMT’s publication of new car registration figures for May 2020, Jonathan Moss, Head of Transport at global legal services business DWF, commented that the numbers are the worst since 1952. He said:

4th June 2020/by Chris

UK car sales down -89% in May

At the same time that the coronavirus lockdown closed car showrooms, the UK new car market fell 89 per cent in May, with just over 20,000 vehicles delivered. However, the adoption of ‘click and collect’-style online ordering was one ray of light. Still, according to the SMMT data, in May 2020 the overall UK new car market was 163,477 units behind the same month last year. And therefore, the market is down more than 51 per cent in the first five months.

4th June 2020/by Chris

Automotive retailers ready to welcome customers back

The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) is pleased that car showrooms can reopen from today (1st June) in England if they meet the COVID-19 guidelines to protect staff and customers. Franchised dealers have been working hard to prepare their premises in line with the Government and industry guidelines to ensure the safety of staff and customers when reopening.

1st June 2020/by Andrew

UK car manufacturing faces long wait to return to normal levels – KPMG

Market Info, UK News

While UK car manufacturing is beginning to reopen production lines after producing just 197 units in April, Andrew Burn, partner and head of Automotive at KPMG, said the road ahead is far from clear, despite the UK’s car dealerships being given the green light to open. Export markets, uncertainty about demand, and the challenge of cross-border supply chains all provide significant headwinds for the country’s car makers.

29th May 2020/by Andrew

15 commercial vehicles manufactured in April, down -99.3%

Market Info, UK News

Only 15 units ran off UK commercial vehicle (CV) production lines in April, -99.3 down year-on-year.The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) chief executive, Mike Hawes said that while unsurprising, the figures “illustrate the incredible challenge facing the UK commercial vehicle sector” as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown.

29th May 2020/by Andrew

UK car manufacturing down -99.7% in April

Market Info, UK News

April car production was basically non-existant in the UK. The country’s output for the month was the lowest since the Second World War, down -99.7 per cent, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures. The coronavirus lockdown forced plants to close, meaning just 197 premium, luxury and sports cars left factory gates in the month. These were models that had been assembled prior to shutdowns with only finishing touches needed.

29th May 2020/by Andrew