UK vehicle production suffers 2024 decline – SMMT
UK vehicle production fell by 11.8% last year with a total of 905,233 units produced, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
It found that 779,584 cars were produced during the year, along with 125,649 commercial vehicles.
CV output was actually up four per cent, but this did not make up for a 13.9% decline in car manufacturing with the SMMT attributing the fall to factories retooling for EVs, weakness in key global markets, and a slowdown in the transition to electrification amid tough economic conditions.
December rounded off 10 consecutive months of decline for British car production, with output down 27.1% to 45,022 units.
Meanwhile, production for the UK market fell eight per cent to 176,019 units while exports were down 15.5% to 603,565 units.
In terms of fuel types, production of electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles was 20.4% lower than in 2023 with 275,896 units – which accounted for 35.4% of overall output.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Amid significant geopolitical and trade tensions, UK manufacturers are set on turning billions of pounds of investment into production reality, transforming factories to make new electric vehicles for sale around the world. Growing pains are inevitable, so the drop in volumes last year is not surprising.
“With new, exciting models and battery production on the horizon, the potential for growth is clear. Securing this future, however, requires industrial and trade strategies that deliver the competitive conditions essential for growth amidst an increasingly protectionist global environment.”
