Latest news with #UKmanufacturing
Auto Car
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Why the UK's car factories have suffered for years – and how to fix them
Close The current UK government is proving one of most automotive-friendly in years, winning plaudits from the industry for its successful haggling over US tariffs, loosening of the ZEV mandate without a disruptive rewrite, and now for a new industrial strategy that puts automotive right at its heart. One of the hopes the government expressed within the strategy document is that UK vehicle manufacturing output can climb again, from a paltry 905,233 cars, vans, trucks and buses last year to 1.3 million by 2035.
Auto Express
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
The UK is now building fewer cars than in the 1950s and that's inexplicable to me
It hurts me to admit this, but we have to acknowledge a major problem before taking realistically workable measures to rapidly rectify it. So here goes: on the world stage, Britain's automotive business is currently looking and performing like a low-volume cottage industry. Long-established car-building nations Germany and Japan, relative newcomers such as China and South Korea – plus dark horse countries like the Czech Republic and Spain – all now wipe the floor with the UK in terms of the number of cars produced. Sure, the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, McLaren and Gordon Murray Automotive are still among the best in the world at designing and building proper luxury, sports, super or hyper cars. But the nature of such magnificent, high-end beasts is that only a comparatively tiny number of buyers can afford them, so they're inevitably produced in tiny numbers. It's the less glamorous, quicker and easier-to-build, high-volume, massively-more-affordable models that create the all-important manufacturing jobs in big numbers. And the harsh truth is that we no longer make enough of them. That's why UK automotive growth, exports, employment levels and tax revenues (from businesses, but also from employees) all suffer. Advertisement - Article continues below A week or so ago, the Society of Motor Manufacturers admitted that UK vehicle production numbers have just plummeted to their lowest level since 1952 (ignoring the Covid years). Back then, bruised and battered Britain was still something of a bomb site and desperately rebuilding after the ravages of World War 2. It had a population of around 50 million, and adults with the hunger and energy to earn a crust worked in noisy, unpleasant vehicle manufacturing factories that were archaic by today's standards. Now, 73 years later, with 70 million residents and considerably quieter, cleaner plants, we're producing less than in the early fifties. That's inexplicable. The UK Government must step up to offer job and tax-generation help, legislation and assistance – including meaningful financial incentives for Brits to buy more Brit-built cars. Our domestic industry needs to help itself by thinking harder and working more productively – just as the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Germans and South Koreans do. And just as Brit consumers often make a point of spending their money on farm and orchard produce, drinks, music, film, fashion and art from the UK, shouldn't we be thinking the same about our locally produced, volume-built cars and LCVs? If the answer's yes, what better time than now for us to do our bit for our nation and local auto workers by investing in more home-grown vehicles? The BBBC (Buy British-Built Cars) campaign could – and perhaps should – start right here, right now. Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too ... Find a car with the experts New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
In Labour's hands, British manufacturing never stood a chance
The delay of the UK's long-awaited industrial strategy should hardly come as a shock. This country's approach to such matters has long been confused. At times, it has been utterly non-existent. Industrial policy was so muddled during the twilight years of a dying Tory government, that it often seemed like ministers were making it up as they went along. Knee-jerk responses to major crises – such as the one that saw Sheffield Forgemasters nationalised when someone in Whitehall suddenly realised the £40bn programme to build the Royal Navy's next-generation nuclear missile submarines was in jeopardy –became the norm in the absence of any joined-up thinking. The decision of Boris Johnson to scrap the industrial strategy council and replace it with the 'Build Back Better council' – one of many utterly hollow slogans the Tories desperately dreamed up as their popularity collapsed – seemed like the moment that the UK threw in the towel on any pretence of a clear industrial plan. Remarkably, the situation has deteriorated even further under this Labour Government. Rather than 'reigniting Britain's industrial heartlands' as Keir Starmer claimed on the basis of very little, shortly after taking power, the current Cabinet is in danger of presiding over the complete disappearance of UK manufacturing. In the hands of clueless Labour ministers obsessed by net zero and entirely arbitrary green targets, swathes of the industrial base are vanishing before our eyes, and there is no plan to stop it. The consequences for entire towns built on factory production, and surrounding communities, will be utterly devastating. Since Labour won the general election, the list of major manufacturers that have raised the white flag has ballooned into a who's who of UK industry. Port Talbot's blast furnaces have closed, threatening the very existence of that region's biggest employer. At British Steel, the situation is even more alarming – its vast Lincolnshire steelworks is now controlled by the Government, forced to step in after years of neglect by Chinese owners, yet with no discernible sign that the site has a viable future. The closure of Grangemouth, Scotland's only remaining oil refinery, in the coming weeks, is in danger of being missed altogether – except of course by the hundreds of people employed there.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Car factories in the UK record lowest output in over 70 years
Car production took a hefty hit last month hitting a 70-year low. Just 59,203 vehicles were made in April as car and commercial vehicle production fell by 15 per cent, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. The number of cars rolling off UK assembly lines dropped by 8.6 per cent, while the output of vans and commercial vehicles slumped by a massive 68.8 per cent, marking the lowest April since 1952 - the year Elizabeth II became Queen. The SMMT is hoping that new trade deals with the EU, US and India will provide opportunities for future growth, but chief executive Mike Hawes is pushing for 'additional investment' such as the reported £41million Toyota will spend building its GR Corolla hot hatch in Derbyshire. April's slump of 16 per cent compared to the same month last year, and the 25 per cent drop on March when numbers were helped by an increase in shipments to the US before Trump's tariffs took effect, cap off the sector's lowest start to a year since 2009. Critically, car export production fell by 10.1 per cent, caused by falls in demand to Britain's best markets, the EU and US. Exports to the EU fell 19.1 per cent, while US exports fell by 2.7 per cent, although the EU still took more than half of all exports while the US received 16.5 per cent. Conversely, exports to China and Turkey rose by 44 per cent and 31.2 per cent respectively. There were fewer production days in the month due to Easter falling between 18 and 20 of the month, which reduced April's output compared to the rise in output in March, the SMMT said. Amid economic uncertainty and rapidly changing global trading conditions, the SMMT has stressed the need for the government's eagerly awaited industrial strategy to 'contain measures that boost the competitiveness of Britain's most valuable export sector'. April 1952 was the last time motor outputs were that low - that year, 53,517 vehicles were produced. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: 'With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness. '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.' However, industry sources have reason to be optimistic with some new investment in UK car manufacturing announced recently. This is Money reported yesterday that Toyota is looking to invest £41million building the GR Corolla hot hatch at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire to capatilise on the sizeable market in the US and reduce wait times to its North American customers. It's also a sign of Britain's attractiveness to firms as the UK-US trade deal – the US has reduced tariffs from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for up to 100,000 UK-made cars per year - makes the UK a desirable place to set up factories and 'act as a bridge between the US and EU'. Struggling car maker Nissan recently confirmed that its new Leaf and Juke EVs will be built at its Sunderland plant before the end of next year, a positive sign for the future of the UK's biggest car factory which employs around 6,000 people. The Government followed with an announced that it will give a £1billion loan to Nissan to secure jobs as the Japanese manufacturer embarks on a £1.3bn cost-saving plan which will see seven plants close globally and 20,000 jobs culled.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
UK vehicle manufacturing plummets to lowest since 1952 in April
Car and van manufacturing in the UK slumped to its lowest level in more than 70 years last month. Latest figures from the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed the number of cars made in Britain fell by 8.6% in April while production of vans and other commercial vehicles was down by 68.6%. Overall UK car and commercial vehicle production fell by 15.8% to 59,203 units in April. Excluding the first covid lockdown in 2020 when virtually all manufacturing ceased, that is the the lowest output total for the month since April 1952, when the late Queen Elizabeth II had just ascended the throne and the Morris Minor was the best selling car in the UK. While output was limited by the timing of Easter, model changeovers and temporary plant closures the figures will nonetheless sound alarm bells. The SMMT said 'urgent action' is required to reboot one of the country's most important manufacturing and exporting sectors. The first four months of the year have been the slowest for production since the 2009 recession caused by the global financial crisis. Car exports declined 10.1% during a month of intense international trading volatility, while commercial vehicle exports fell 75.8%. Shipments to the UK's two largest global markets, the EU and US, fell by 19.1% and 2.7% respectively, although the EU still took more than half of all exports while the US received 16.5%. But exports to China and Turkey rose by 44.0% and 31.2% respectively. Commercial vehicle export volumes, meanwhile, fell sharply by 75.8%. The decline was driven by a 78.9% drop in shipments to the EU, but the bloc retained the lion's share of exports at 84.9%. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, 'With automotive manufacturing experiencing its toughest start to the year since 2009, urgent action is needed to boost domestic demand and our international competitiveness. '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.' Sign in to access your portfolio
