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

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 items. 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 largest world market with nearly six in 10 exports heading for the bloc (57.9%) – representing an 11.5 proportion level uplift in shipments from final yr after volumes rose 17.8%.¹

Within the yr to this point, general manufacturing continues its double digit positive aspects, rising 11.8% to 571,671 items.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 autos continued to show a vivid spot, with a 14th consecutive month-to-month acquire. August confirmed mixed volumes of electrified autos rose, albeit modestly, by 2.8% to signify almost two in 5 (36.6%) of all vehicles made, equal to 16,511 items. Since January, automotive makers have turned out 216,922 of those essential autos, an uplift of 84,310 on the earlier yr, proof of the UK’s functionality to be a frontrunner in zero emission manufacturing.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Government, 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, will not be a trigger for concern. With automotive producers benefiting from the summer season vacation season to improve their vegetation, that is a part of an ongoing dedication to ship the following era of electrical autos, with a file variety of these fashions already being made. To safe future funding, nevertheless, we want enterprise certainty, not least a UK-EU settlement to delay more durable guidelines of origin that might injury the competitiveness of electrical autos 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 attributable to start in lower than 100 days and are important to enterprise planning and funding for 2024 and past.

SOURCE: SMMT