Businesses in the automotive supply chain that need to invest in bespoke tools to complete contracts are to get specialist support, thanks to the launch of a new Tooling Finance product by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
UK car registration figures show the market continues stable growth, despite an ongoing run of strong growth. New car registrations in the UK made a modest gain of 2 per cent in April, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) released to coincide with the opening of the 2016 CV Show indicate that the number of vans on Britain’s roads has hit an all-time high of 4 million; a 4.3 per cent increase since the previous year.
Univar Speciality Consumables, a UK-based distributor of specialty products and lubricants, announced it has joined the membership of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
SMMT figures show that the new van market finished the first three months of the year on a high, with a 3.3 per cent uplift in demand in March. The 63,913 registrations made in the month represented some two thirds of the quarter’s total volume, with 98,906 new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) hitting British roads in the year to date – up 1.2 per cent on the same period in 2015.
The UK’s new car market grew by 5.3 per cent in March, making it the biggest ever month since the bi-annual plate change began in 1999, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
518,707 new cars were registered in March, only the third time the market has surpassed half a million units in a single month. The month rounded off a record quarter, in which 771,780 new cars were registered – a 5.1 per cent increase over the first quarter in 2015.
Specialist automotive parts supplier, GT Automotive, continues on its path of investing in the UK aftermarket by signing up to SMMT.
GT Automotive will now have access to discounted products, specific member services and member-only areas of the website.
Whilst white used to be a free colour choice from manufacturers, figures from cap hpi reveal that eight out of the top 10 new car models ordered in 2015 added an extra premium of at least £250 to go a whiter shade of pale. However, according to the SMMT, one in five new cars sold in 2015 was white, making it the most popular colour for car buyers for the third year running. For those who want a car that looks pure as the driven snow, but for a lesser price, cap hpi puts the spotlight on those models which still come with an option to have white for free.
Roadlink International has invested the best part of £700k in its commercial vehicle caliper remanufacturing operation with the opening of a brand new facility at its head office in Willenhall, West Midlands.
SMMT figures show the new van market achieved a steady performance in February, with registrations at the same level as this time last year, when the sector recorded a seven-year high. 13,891 new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were registered in February – traditionally one of the quietest months of the year.
Commenting on the February new car registrations, Steve Jackson, chief car editor, Glass’s, said: “February SMMT registration statistics show private customers have been incentivised back in to the market with low interest rates, deposit incentives and a selection of new models on offer.
Figures from the Society of Motor manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that new car registrations continued the positive start to 2016 in February, growing 8.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2015. 83,395 new cars were registered in the month, marking the biggest February since 2004.
OEMs making cars in the UK want to stay in Europe. 77 per cent of SMMT members say remaining in Europe is best for their business, according to 2016 survey by independent pollster ComRes. Indeed, there is strong support for EU membership across the board, with 88 per cent of large SMMT member companies and 73 per cent of SME members in favour of remaining. This is the second time SMMT members have been canvassed on their Brexit views – and the second time the overwhelming majority have stated that staying in Europe is best for their business.
White is the number one car colour once again, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). White demand grew 2.2 per cent to 564,393 units in 2015. However, green saw the biggest uplift, with demand up 31.2 per cent to take seventh place in nation’s top 10.
There could be as many as 5,000 job vacancies in the UK automotive industry due to a skills shortage affecting the sector, according to a new report published by the Automotive Council.
The report, which was developed by automotive industry consultants SMMT Industry Forum on behalf of the Automotive Industrial Partnership, surveys a range of British-based automotive firms, from vehicle manufacturers to component suppliers, to identify the areas of employment most difficult to recruit, and provide an important means for industry and government to tackle the skills issue. Around 19 per cent of the unfilled vacancies cited in the report are identified as ‘critical’ and having a significant impact on company operations.
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