UK automotive manufacturing crashed -30.1% in November to a 44-year low. It was the ninth consecutive month of decline with a 64,216 automobiles rolling off manufacturing facility traces, 27,711 fewer than in November final yr, in keeping with figures from the Society of Motor Producers & Merchants (SMMT).
It stated the autumn was resulting from product choices, weak point in key international markets and a robust comparative November 2023 efficiency.
With UK automotive makers retooling factories to make electrical automobiles, all main producers skilled declines, representing the worst efficiency for the month since 1980.
Output for each home and export markets fell sharply, down -56.7% and -21.3% respectively, with greater than eight-in-10 automobiles shipped abroad and greater than half of those (52.3%) heading into the EU.
A complete of 19,165 battery electrical, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electrical automobiles have been made within the month, representing virtually a 3rd (29.8%) of output, regardless of volumes declining by -45.5%. From January to November, UK automotive makers have produced greater than 1 / 4 of one million electrified automobiles, down -19.7% on the identical interval in 2023 due primarily to mannequin switchovers going down at main vegetation.
Within the yr thus far, UK automotive output has fallen by -12.9% to 734,562 models – 108,787 fewer than the identical interval in 2023 and virtually half one million wanting 2019 volumes. 2 Given the restructuring that’s going down throughout the worldwide automotive business which has seen plant closures, together with the UK over this era, and the modifications underway as corporations transition from ICE to EV manufacturing, a decline was anticipated.
Mike Hawes, SMMT CEO, stated, “These figures provide little Christmas cheer for the sector. Whereas a decline was to be anticipated given the intensive modifications underway at many vegetation, manufacturing is below stress at house and overseas, with billions of kilos dedicated to new applied sciences, new fashions and new manufacturing tooling.
“Government can help by supporting consumers in the transition, fast tracking its Industrial Strategy for advanced manufacturing and, most urgently, reviewing the market regulation which is putting enormous strain on the sector.”
