UK vehicle production down in November
UK vehicle production fell by 14.3% to 65,932 units in November, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
It found that car output was down 1.7% to 63,126 units, which is just 1,090 fewer than in the same month last year as production normalises following the cyber attack to JLR.
However, commercial vehicle production plummeted by 78% to just 2,806 units, which is 9,943 fewer than in the same month last year. This was the eight month in a row of falling output in the commercial vehicle sector.
The news comes after the European Commission announced flexibilities on CO2 targets and public subsidies for businesses adopting greener vehicles ‘made in the EU’. The UK automotive industry has cautioned that excluding like-minded trading partners such as the UK would be counterproductive.
Growth expected
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Car production is normalising following August’s cyber incident and, with the manufacture of a new EV model starting in Sunderland, the sector can look forward with some optimism.
“Growth is expected next year, with the industry poised to reap the benefits of recent UK government backing – notably new funding, modernised trade deals and efforts to reduce energy costs.
“The growth this package seeks to create, however, would be undermined if the UK becomes the main unintended victim of new EU local content requirements. We must instead work on a pragmatic and inclusive approach, one which protects and enhances competitiveness across the European automotive ecosystem.”
