CV production collapses to 15 units in April
Only 15 commercial vehicles were manufactured in the UK in April, representing a fall of 99.3%.
None of the vehicles were exported, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Year-to-date commercial vehicle production fell 27.6% on what was already an exceptionally weak April in 2019, when volumes fell a staggering 70.9% due to planned factory shutdowns timed to mitigate any disruption arising from the anticipated March Brexit.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “These figures, though unprecedentedly low, are not surprising given the exceptional circumstances. However, they do illustrate the incredible challenge facing the UK commercial vehicle sector and, consequently, the wider economy. Production lines are beginning to roll again but, with strict social distancing measures in place, scaling up to full capacity will be a gradual process.
“To accelerate a sustainable recovery of this critical and fundamentally strong industry and future-proof jobs, we will need government’s ongoing support.”
