UK car production dropped 15% in April

It has been a bruising couple of months for the UK car industry, with uncertainty over global trade and other factors pushing production of cars and commercial vehicles down by 15.8% in April to 59,203 units, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT).

That is the lowest level of production since 1952, excluding April 2020 when production effectively ceased during the first Covid lockdown – and means the UK automotive industry has had its slowest start to the year since 2009. 

There were a few factors at play, according to the SMMT: a later Easter, which brought down the number of working days in April, as well as model changeovers and lower demand in key export markets. Car production for export fell by 10.1% and commercial vehicle output declined by 68.6%. 

"With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness," said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. "Government has recognised automotive manufacturing’s critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month.

"To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment, which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK."