28th Nov 2025 01:11
(Alliance News) - There was a sharp decline in UK vehicle production in October, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders.
Figures from the UK motor industry trade group showed vehicle production fell 31% year-on-year in October to 62,116 cars and commercial vehicles from 89,871 units previously.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: "Another difficult month for UK vehicle production as the impact of the earlier [Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC] cyber attack continued to be felt. Growth is on the horizon, however, and government has recognised the automotive industry as a pillar of national strategic importance, backing it with an industrial strategy and additional GBP1.5 billion to drive manufacturing competitiveness.
"Investment competitiveness also depends on a healthy domestic market, however, notably for [electric vehicles], and introducing a new electric Vehicle Excise Duty is the wrong measure at the wrong time. This new tax will undermine demand, so government must work with industry to reduce the cost of compliance and protect the UK's investment appeal."
Car output alone declined 24% to 59,010 units from 77,484 units, and at 46%, almost half of all cars produced in October were either battery electric, plug-in hybrids or hybrid models.
Cars produced for the UK market fell 11% to 13,785 units from 15,418 units, while car production for export markets was 27% lower at 45,225 units from 62,066 units.
Meanwhile, commercial vehicle production fell for the seventh consecutive month, down 75% at 3,106 units from 12,387 units.
"So far this year, UK car and van manufacturers have turned out a total of 644,366 units representing a -17.0% fall on the same period in 2024. However, the latest independent production outlook expects growth to return in 2026 with a total of 828,000 cars and vans anticipated to be made next year, driven by new electric car models coming into production – with the potential to reach some 1m units by the end of this decade if the right conditions are in place," the SMMT said.
By Elijah Dale, Alliance News senior reporter Asia-Pacific
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