The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed that commercial vehicle production output soared 71.7% in July.
After four months of decline, production climbed to 15,252 units, making it the best July performance in 16 years and a 201.8% increase on pre-pandemic July 2019 volumes.
Growth in the month was driven by easing supply chain challenges and ongoing demand from overseas markets – which grew 76.8% to 9,534 units. Exports accounted for 62.5% of all vehicles produced in the month, while the domestic market also recorded double-digit growth, rising by 63.7% to 5,718 units.
Year-to-date commercial vehicle production is now up by 7.3% on the same period in 2023 to 72,761 units.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:
“An end to recent supply chain disruption signals a return to growth for the UK’s commercial vehicle sector, and significant growth at that. Sustaining strong global demand for British-built vans, trucks and buses, which are increasingly zero emission, now depends on maintaining favourable trading conditions, creating healthy markets at home and boosting UK competitiveness on the global stage.
