All The Fun Of The Fair With BEN
On Saturday 16 July, BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund will, for one night only, transform the grounds of Lynwood, its residential centre near Ascot, into a traditional fairground with a difference.
Posts
CV Show and ATS – Another Success
Product NewsThe SMMT have described this years Commercial Vehicle Show and Automotive Trade Show as “an outstanding success.” Provisional figures show that almost 27,000 visitors attended the three-day event at the NEC last week.
“The CV Show and ATS is the most successful show of its type in Europe,” said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. “Last week’s excellent event reinforced that market-leading position, delivering multi-million pound business opportunities to 632 exhibitors and thousands of trade visitors. We know that many exhibitors made good use of the opportunities we delivered and collectively announced billions of pounds worth of new business.”
CV and AT Show Registration
Product NewsThe CV and Automotive Trade Show guides and fast track passes are arriving this week for pre-registered visitors, reports the SMMT. The show organisers are encouraging those who wish to register to do so by 30 March and visitors will get a free show guide and fast-track entry pass.
“Register this week, online,” says Bob Sockl of Crystal Communications, which markets the show on behalf of the SMMT and CV Show partnership. “But if you can’t, don’t worry, you’ll still be most welcome and will still get to see Europe’s biggest and most successful automotive, CV and road transport show.”
February Registrations Down
Product NewsThe UK’s February new car registrations are down 14,368 units or 15.7 per cent to 77,092. However the decrease was expected due to the twice-yearly plate change, reports the SMMT with February accounting for a mere 3.5 per cent of the annual market.
Commenting on the figures, SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, said, ‘February is traditionally a slow month as new car buyers and the motor industry prepare for the surge that accompanies the March plate change. After last year’s significant growth in the first quarter, we expect March registrations to fall by around six per cent. While this is lower than last year’s record total, it still represents a new car market in good shape.’
UK Vehicle Production Slips
Product NewsUK car production fell 3.7 per cent or 5,286 units in January 2005, reports the SMMT. At the same time output for the home market climbed 4.3 per cent. However, production for export markets fell by 7.5 per cent, compared to a growth of 12.4 per cent a year ago.
Record UK CV Registrations – Car Numbers Drop
Product NewsJanuary’s UK commercial vehicle rolling year total was the highest ever, according to the latest figures released by the SMMT. The numbers show that the rolling total stands at 391,070, up 7.6 per cent. The year-on-year figure also shows improvement, having grown 4.6 per cent compared with 2004.
Cars Produced for Export Hit Record Total in 2004
Product NewsThe number of cars produced for export hit a record level last year, rising three per cent to 1,179,753 units, says the Office for National Statistics. However production for the UK market fell 9.1 per cent bringing last year’s total to 467,020 units, compared to 513,799 in 2003.
More than seven out of every 10 cars made in the UK are now destined for export markets, says the SMMT, adding that output for export markets rose for the third year in a row.
Growth in CV assembly in 2004
Product NewsCommercial vehicle output in the UK rose 10.8 per cent in 2004 according to provisional data released by the Office for National Statistics. However CVs produced for the home market fell 17.2 per cent for the three months to December because of a focus on meeting European demand.
“The 2004 figures show UK commercial production figures over 10 per cent up on the previous year,” said Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. “Last year was a record breaker for CV registrations in the UK and it is encouraging to see production climbing too. European demand has helped export figures increase by 25 per cent and new UK product developments will help keep those figures up. It’s great to have so much good news from the CV sector.”
Silverstone Withdraws from Motor Show
Product NewsThe Silverstone motor circuit has pulled out of the running to host the British International Motor Show. The SMMT confirmed the racetrack had withdrawn leaving three major venues – the Birmingham NEC, Earls Court in London and the Docklands Excel centre — pitching for the 2006 exhibition. An SMMT spokesman said a final decision on the show’s future location would be made in February.
Motor Industry Awarded for ABS
Product NewsThe motor industry has been presented with What Car? magazine’s 2005 readers award, for the voluntary fitting of Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) as standard. Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, collected the award yesterday on behalf of the industry.
Readers voted for initiatives delivered in the past year that made their lives safer, easier or cheaper. The magazine’s editor David Motton said: “Previously, buyers were more likely to spend money on optional extras such as alloy wheels or air-con rather than ABS. Now they no longer have to make that choice and lives will be saved as a result.”
SMMT Publication Launched
Product NewsThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has launched its annual publication “Motor Industry Of Great Britain – 2004 World Automotive Statistics”.
At nearly 500 pages, the report contains its usual comprehensive, in-depth examination of various aspects of the market, including detailed analysis of car and other vehicle sales. And not just vehicles, as the report contains details of numerous components, including tyres.
2004 Car Registrations Remain Flat
Product NewsIn 2004 new car registrations in the UK totalled 2,567,269 units, 0.5 per cent down compared with 2003’s figures. During the same period the number of units manufactured with diesel engines increased 18.5 per cent totalling 835,334 units. Diesel cars now occupy a record 32.5 per cent of the market. Registrations for the month December dipped 7.1 per cent to 144,353 units from 155,452.
Record Annual CV Registrations
Product NewsCommercial vehicle registrations hit an all time high last year with a record level of 389, 923 units, a figure that was up some 9.5 per cent. The SMMT also recorded the highest ever December CV registrations at 28,470.
According to the society growth remained concentrated in LCVs, particularly medium vans. 24,021 light commercial vehicles were registered in December, with a total of 329,599 units recorded for the year.
UK Car Production Rises in November
Product NewsAccording to provisional output data released by the Office for National Statistics the total UK car production rose 4.5 per cent in November and has reached its highest November output since 2000. “This performance demonstrates the resilience of UK car production since the period of restructuring at the turn of the decade. Our nine volume manufacturers are now on track to produce 1.65 million cars in 2004 and similar volumes in 2005,” commented SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan these figures published just before Christmas. “Growth 2004 has largely focused on production for export, demonstrating the value and strength of UK manufacturing in a competitive global market. Seven out of every 10 cars made in the UK are destined for export and we expect this trend to continue in 2005,” he added. The output volume of commercial vehicles was up six per cent in November 2004 with an export growth up 25 per cent for the month, and 27.3 per cent over year-to-November respectively. “The recovery in CV demand throughout Europe has had a positive effect on UK production facilities. They have clearly been up to the challenge, delivering state-of-the-art vehicles throughout the EU. CVs produced for home markets remain broadly stable compared to 2003, reflecting the use of the UK as a positive outlet for new home produced vans and trucks. We still expect to meet the 2004 forecast for 210,000 units manufactured in the UK,” said Christopher Macgowan.
November Car Registrations Up
Product NewsAccording to figures released by the SMMT, car registrations went up 172,094 units (1.8 per cent) in November, leading to confidence that by the end of the year 2004 will be a growth year. This is exemplified in the fact that year-to-date figures are only 682 units behind the 2003 level. In order for 2004 to be a record year only 156,135 cars need to be registered. Commenting on the announcement, SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan said: “November’s new car market was the second largest on record, boosting registrations towards a fourth consecutive record annual total. While the December market is difficult to predict, 156,135 new cars would see another record total. With Christmas coming, it remains to be seen if enough people have a new car on their gift list.”
