UK car production sees six months of growth

author: FutureCar Staff    

UK car production experienced a significant surge in July, with a rise of 31.6%, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth, according to the latest data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This growth comes as a positive sign for UK car makers who have been recovering from recent challenges, including global chip shortages. In July, a total of 76,451 units were produced, showcasing the industry's ability to deliver the latest models to both domestic and international buyers. However, despite this growth, output still remains 29.4% lower than pre-pandemic levels in July 2019.

In terms of manufacturing output, the UK saw a 13.7% increase to 13,187 units in July. Furthermore, exports witnessed a substantial rise of 36.1% to 63,264 units, which accounted for the majority of production during the month. Approximately 82.8% of the cars produced were shipped overseas, with the EU, US, China, Japan, and Australia being the top destination markets. These five markets alone contributed to almost 85% of all UK car exports in July.

The production of hybrid electric (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to grow steadily, with combined volumes rising by 73.9% to 30,180 units. These vehicles represented almost 40% of all cars produced in July. Since January, UK car makers have produced over 200,000 of these high-tech vehicles, which is nearly double the amount produced during the same period last year. Overall, a total of 526,619 cars were manufactured, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 14.2%.

Mike Hawes, the Chief Executive of SMMT, expressed optimism about the recovery of British car production, particularly with the increasing demand for electrified models. He emphasized the need for a coherent strategy that capitalizes on the strengths of the industry and supports advanced automotive manufacturing in order to attract further investment and produce the next generation of zero-emission models and technologies.

The latest independent production outlook predicts that total UK car production will reach approximately 860,000 units this year, representing a 10.9% increase compared to 2022. This positive trajectory indicates that the sector is on track to recover from the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, with the potential to achieve production levels of one million units by 2028.

SOURCE: SMMT

FutureCar Staff