UK commercial vehicle production fell by 4.8% in August, despite overall vehicle manufacturing returning to growth during the month.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show 1,544 vans, trucks, buses and coaches were produced during August. Output for export increased by 10.9%, but production for the domestic market fell 15.5%.
Year-to-date commercial vehicle production remains 50.9% lower, with the SMMT attributing much of the decline to structural changes in UK manufacturing capacity.
The wider automotive manufacturing picture was more positive. Total UK vehicle production increased by 5.7% to 40,872 units, although the SMMT cautioned that August is traditionally a low-volume month and can be heavily affected by the timing of factory summer shutdowns.
Car production rose 6.1% to 39,328 units, with output for the UK market up 26%. Export production increased 1.4%, accounting for 77.1% of cars built during the month.
Exports to Australia, Japan and the US posted the strongest growth in the top 10 markets, up 104.7%, 88.4% and 48.6% respectively, with the US delivering the greatest volume gain, up by 1,508 units. Shipments to Türkiye, China and the EU declined, falling -49.6%, -15.0%, and -7.4% respectively, although the EU remained the UK’s largest overseas destination accounting for 54.1% of all exports.
The figures arrive alongside more than £1bn of recently announced investment in UK automotive manufacturing. However, the SMMT is warning that proposed EU ‘Made in Europe’ measures and forthcoming changes to rules of origin could create additional barriers for UK-built vehicles.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said August’s growth and the investment announcements demonstrated confidence in UK manufacturing, but called for the UK and EU to agree practical measures to protect the closely integrated automotive industries on both sides.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “August’s return to growth and this month’s £1 billion-plus investment commitments show hard-won confidence in UK automotive manufacturing, confidence that must be protected, not put at risk. The UK and EU automotive industries are deeply integrated, so effectively excluding British-produced vehicles from their largest market would assure mutual damage. Both sides must urgently agree practical fixes to protect jobs, preserve shared competitiveness and keep the EU and UK industry moving.”
