UK automotive manufacturing fell -9.7% in August, following six consecutive months of development, as 45,052 fashions rolled off manufacturing unit traces, in keeping with the newest figures printed right this moment by the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT). Usually the smallest quantity month of the yr with typically variable summer time shutdowns which may result in giant share variations, August’s output was partially affected by prolonged manufacturing pauses at some crops for deliberate upkeep and upgrades as automotive makers gear as much as produce the following era of electrical automobiles.

Manufacturing for the home market declined by greater than 1 / 4 (-25.2%), whereas output for export fell by a much less pronounced -5.5%, equal to 2,150 models. The lower was pushed largely by a decline in shipments to the US, China and Japan, down -58.6%, -24.5% and -37.8% respectively. The EU, in the meantime, remained the UK’s greatest world market with nearly six in 10 exports heading for the bloc (57.9%) – representing an 11.5 share level uplift in shipments from final yr after volumes rose 17.8%.¹

Within the yr so far, general manufacturing continues its double digit positive aspects, rising 11.8% to 571,671 models.² Each house and export volumes are up within the first eight months of the yr, by 2.5% and 14.4% respectively.

Manufacturing of the newest and greenest automobiles continued to show a vibrant spot, with a 14th consecutive month-to-month acquire. August confirmed mixed volumes of electrified automobiles rose, albeit modestly, by 2.8% to signify almost two in 5 (36.6%) of all automobiles made, equal to 16,511 models. Since January, automotive makers have turned out 216,922 of those essential automobiles, an uplift of 84,310 on the earlier yr, proof of the UK’s functionality to be a pacesetter in zero emission manufacturing.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Govt, stated,

After six straight months of development, a decline in UK automotive output in what’s at all times the smallest and most variable quantity month, isn’t a trigger for concern. With automotive producers profiting from the summer time vacation season to improve their crops, that is a part of an ongoing dedication to ship the following era of electrical automobiles, with a report variety of these fashions already being made. To safe future funding, nonetheless, we’d like enterprise certainty, not least a UK-EU settlement to delay harder guidelines of origin that will harm the competitiveness of electrical automobiles in each the European and British markets and concrete particulars from the UK authorities on the regulation compelling the sale of EVs in Britain. Each are as a result of start in lower than 100 days and are important to enterprise planning and funding for 2024 and past.

SOURCE: SMMT