UK automobile manufacturing fell sharply in November, plunging almost a 3rd in comparison with the identical month final 12 months and reaching its lowest November output since 1980.
In response to new figures from the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT), simply 64,216 automobiles rolled off manufacturing traces—27,711 fewer than in November 2023—marking the ninth consecutive month-to-month decline.
Of these produced, fewer than a 3rd (19,165) have been battery electrical or hybrid autos, a phase that itself recorded a forty five.5% year-on-year hunch. The general efficiency harks again to the period of commercial unrest and Ford dominance within the early Nineteen Eighties, when Britain’s high sellers included the Escort Mk3, Sierra, and Cortina, and manufacturing final dipped this low for November.
These figures come at a time of serious upheaval within the UK automotive sector. Mike Hawes, chief govt of the SMMT, acknowledged the dimensions of change: “A decline was to be expected given the extensive transformations under way at many plants, but manufacturers are facing pressures both at home and abroad. Billions of pounds are being poured into new technologies, models, and production tooling, but the challenges are formidable.”
The information additionally underscore uneven demand. Output for the home market greater than halved final month, whereas export-oriented manufacturing shrank by 21.3%. The year-to-date whole now sits at about 734,500 automobiles, a discount of 108,790 in comparison with the identical level in 2023 and solely about half of 2019 volumes.
This sobering backdrop is additional sophisticated by coverage choices. Stellantis, the mother or father firm of Vauxhall, not too long ago introduced plans to shut its van-making plant in Luton, placing as much as 1,100 jobs in danger. Stellantis pinned a part of the blame on stringent new UK guidelines requiring producers to hit annual zero-emission automobile (ZEV) gross sales targets or face hefty fines.
Jonathan Reynolds, the enterprise secretary, has acknowledged business issues and pledged to evaluation the ZEV mandate. The federal government’s response, anticipated in January, is keenly awaited.
The SMMT believes that instant and decisive motion is now important. “With the domestic EV market not growing as quickly as anticipated, the UK government must respond swiftly,” the organisation stated. “Introducing incentives for private consumers, accelerating the rollout of charging infrastructure, and fast-tracking a coherent industrial and trade strategy are all vital steps. Most urgently, it must publish the consultation on adjustments to the ZEV mandate. Connecting a thriving local market with robust local production is essential for the sector’s revival.”
As producers grapple with a fancy mixture of evolving expertise, shifting client behaviour, and coverage uncertainty, November’s numbers function a reminder of the turbulence reshaping the UK’s once-stalwart automotive business.
