British cars are being made with more British-sourced components as the UK automotive industry’s renaissance continues apace, new research reveals. Figures from a new Automotive Council report show that domestic component makers sold 19 per cent more products to UK vehicle producers last year than in 2013.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched a nationwide consumer campaign to raise awareness about the latest low-emission car technology and challenge the increasing demonisation of diesel.
When we consider the truck and bus market it can be easy to downgrade the importance of the latter half of the equation. According to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Factbook, there were 89,374 buses (including coaches) on the UK’s roads last year, equating to 13.6 per cent of the UK heavy commercial vehicle parc (i.e. not including van-sized vehicles) and 0.2 per cent of the total vehicle parc. Compared with 568,993 trucks (86.4 per cent of the CV parc), the people transportation segment of the CV market is clearly the junior partner. New bus registrations have made a strong start to 2015 (see textbox), but are still relatively small beer.
“It is encouraging to see that the commercial vehicle market continued to grow in February with registrations up 19.5 per cent”, said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association. February marked the tenth consecutive month of growth in the CV market – up to 40,491 units. Van demand sustained its upward trend and grew 17.9 per cent, and for the second month running, truck registrations increased 31.7 per cent to 2,518 units.
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 on coach and bus registrations in November show that total bus and coach registrations grew 0.8 per cent, against a 2.6 per cent fall in the year-to-date. Coach registrations rose 6.5 per cent in the month, in contrast to the 13.3 per cent decline in the purpose-built bus market.
Registrations of commercial vehicles grew 4.2 per cent in November, with a year-to-date increase of 13.1 per cent, says the SMMT. Growth was again fuelled by the van market, which rose 17.1 per cent to 26,516 units in the month. Meanwhile, truck registrations declined 49.6 per cent to 2,729 units in the aftermath of new Type Approval legislation.
SMMT Figures show that new car registrations grew for the 33rd consecutive month in November, up 8.0 per cent to 172,327 units. 2,310,237 cars have been registered in the year-to-date; a rise of 9.4 per cent and ahead of the 2013 full-year total. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Six months after the record was broken […]
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