CV production up almost a quarter
UK commercial vehicle (CV) production increased by 23.9% in June, with some 4,144 vans, trucks and buses leaving production lines.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that this increase follows a particularly weak June 2019 when output fell by more than half due to key model changeovers.
Total output in the first six months of the year has declined by 24.8%, on the same period in 2019 as Covid-19-enforced lockdown of global markets forced factories to be shuttered.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Although growth in CV manufacturing in June is undoubtedly good news, this does not indicate a return to business as normal. The sector remains almost 9,000 units behind 2019, which will be difficult to catch back given many plants are still operating at a reduced capacity. The government urgently needs to assist this critical sector by building operator confidence domestically and by ensuring competitive conditions are in place to drive long term growth and safeguard jobs. That must start with securing an ambitious and truly tariff-free EU-UK FTA – and quickly.”
