UK Vehicle Production

Data Transportation

Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
Source Link: https://www.smmt.co.uk/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): January 28th, 2026 7:00 PM

Latest Updates

Vehicle production down -14.3% in November with 65,932 cars and commercial vehicles leaving factories.
- Car output dips -1.7% as output normalises following cyber incident, while commercial vehicle volumes drop for eighth month, by -78.0%.
- News comes as EV production resumes in Sunderland, with major new model signposting growth next year.
- UK sector cautions over impact of European Commission’s proposed Automotive Package, notably ‘Made in EU’ conditions.
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Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing
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Total Vehicle Manufacturing

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UK vehicle production fell -18.2% YoY in August 2025 to 38,693 units, the weakest August since 1956, as summer shutdowns and sector headwinds weighed on output.
- Car production declined -10.2% YoY to 37,072 units, ending a two-month growth run, though domestic output rose 11.5% to 7,162 units.
- Export car volumes dropped -14.2% YoY to 29,910 units, accounting for 80.7% of output, underscoring weakness in overseas demand.
- Commercial vehicle production plunged -73.2% YoY to 1,621 units, reflecting consolidation at a major manufacturer.
- Electrified vehicle production surged 40.9% YoY to 16,830 units, with hybrids, plug-ins, and EVs making up 45.4% of output – the second-highest monthly share on record.
- Year-to-date car output fell -5.9% YoY to 492,009 units, while CV production dropped -54.4% YoY to 35,922 units.
- Total exports were down -20.5% YoY to 30,568 units in August, though the export share of production held near 80%.
- Despite headwinds, the SMMT projects the UK auto sector remains on track to generate over £110 billion in trade for the third straight year, supporting 796,000 jobs.
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Total Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing
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UK car production rose +5.6% YoY in July 2025 to 69,127 units, the second consecutive monthly increase, though total vehicle output fell -10.8% to 72,006 units due to a sharp -81.1% drop in commercial vehicle output.
- Car production for domestic and export markets grew +13.6% and +3.7% YoY, with exports accounting for 79.4% of output.
- The EU remained the top destination (45.6% share), followed by the US (18.1%), China (7.7%), Turkey (7.2%), and Japan (3.4%).
- Shipments declined to the EU (-7.9% YoY) and China (-7.1% YoY), but exports to the US rose +6.8% (nearly 10k units), reversing three months of declines, supported by the UK–US trade deal effective June 30.
- Turkey (+35.4% YoY) and Japan (+14.9% YoY) saw strong gains, while other top-10 markets (Australia, Canada, Korea, UAE, Switzerland) made up only 6% combined.
- Year-to-date vehicle output is down -11.7% at 489,238 units, though independent forecasts see a +6.4% rebound to 803,000 units in 2026, aided by the DRIVE35 strategy and competitiveness measures.
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UK vehicle production fell -11.9% YoY in H1 2025 to 417,232 units, weighed by commercial vehicle plant restructuring and global trade disruptions,
- In June, total UK vehicle production was down -6.5% YoY, but there were signs of a recovery as car output increased 6.6% YoY.
- Car production declined -7.3% YoY YTD to 385,810 units; commercial vehicle output plunged -45.4% to 31,422 units.
- Electrified vehicle output rose 1.8% YoY to 160,107 units, reaching a record 41.5% share of total production.
- Vehicle exports made up 76.9% of output; top markets were the EU (54.4%), US (15.9%), and China (7.5%).
- June exports to the US dropped -18.7% YoY, but the UK–US trade deal (effective June 30) is expected to boost future shipments.
- Full-year 2025 output is forecast to decline -15% to 755,000 units before rebounding 6.4% to 803,000 units in 2026.
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UK car and commercial vehicle production fell -32.8% YoY in May to 49,810 units, marking the lowest May output since 1949 (excluding 2020), as tariffs, restructuring, and plant closures weighed on output.
- Car production declined -31.5% YoY to 47,723 units, with exports down -27.8% and domestic output plunging -42.1%; US-bound exports dropped -55.4% amid new tariffs.
- Commercial vehicle output fell -53.6% YoY to 2,087 units due to plant closures; export share of CV production dropped from 67.9% to 41.4%.
- Exports to the EU, China, and Turkey fell -22.5%, -11.5%, and -51.0% YoY, respectively.
- Year-to-date vehicle production is down -12.9% YoY to 348,226 units, the lowest since 1953.
- Industry leaders emphasized the need for rapid implementation of the UK’s new Industrial Strategy to boost competitiveness, manage energy costs, and expand trade access.
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Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing
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UK vehicle production fell -15.8% YoY to 59,203 units in April 2025, the lowest April output since 1952 (excluding 2020), with both car and commercial vehicle segments declining amid holiday timing, model changeovers, and plant restructuring.
- Car production fell -8.6% YoY to 56,534 units, with exports down -10.1% and domestic output down -3.3%; EU and US exports fell -19.1% and -2.7%, while exports to China and Turkey rose 44.0% and 31.2%.
- Commercial vehicle production plunged -68.6% YoY to 2,669 units, driven by plant closures and normalization in HGV demand.
- CV exports dropped -75.8% YoY, led by a -78.9% fall in shipments to the EU; domestic CV output also declined -54.6% YoY.
- Year-to-date vehicle output is down -8.3%, with exports down -5.7% and domestic production down -15.5%.
- The SMMT calls for a robust industrial strategy to support UK manufacturing amid shifting global trade dynamics.
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Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing
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UK Vehicle production rises 17.1% YoY compared with weak March last year, but total Q1 output down -6.3% ahead of new US tariff announcements.
- Domestic production increased 4.7% YoY but was down -16.3% YoY in Q1 2025. In March, Domestic car production was down -6.1% YoY, but domestic commercial vehicle production was up 77.9% YoY.
- Export production increased 23.4% YoY but was down -2.5% YoY in Q1 2025. In March, Domestic car production surged 30.6% YoY due to tariff anticipation, but domestic commercial vehicle production crashed -31.8% YoY.
- Car output rises for first time in a year, reflecting model changes in 2024, with commercial vehicle output also up as demand stabilises following two years of post-pandemic volatility.
- Exports drive growth in car production, while commercial vehicle output rises through domestic demand.
Source uk-vehicle-production-march-2025-1.zip
UK vehicle manufacturing was down -11.6% YoY in February, up from the -17.7% YoY decline in January.
- Car manufacturing was down -7.6% YoY with domestic production down a sharp -33.3% YoY and export production up 1.3% YoY.
- Commercial vehicle volumes were down even more at -35.9% YoY with domestic production up 53.3% YoY and export production crashing -62.7% YoY.
- UK production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars fell -5.6% YoY to 27,398 units in the month, but still boosted their share marginally to 37.1%, from 36.3% last February
Source uk-vehicle-production-february-2025-1.zip
UK vehicle manufacturing was down -17.7% YoY in January, up from -27.1% YoY in December, as a result of a surge in manufacturing in January 2024.
- Car output fell -14.3% YoY to 71,104 units, and commercial vehicle output crashed -41.5% YoY to 6,908 units.
- Vehicles meant for domestic purchase crashed -30.5% YoY with domestic car output down -30.4% YoY and commercial vehicle domestic output down -31.1% YoY.
- Total vehicle exports were down -13.4% YoY with car exports down -9.2% YoY and commercial down -46.6% YoY.
- UK production of battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) vehicles increased 1.5% YoY to 30,028 units, accounting for 42.2% of all cars made in January, the highest monthly performance since December 2022 (47.2%).
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UK Vehicle Production

Latest Updates

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