NEWS

CAR manufacturing in the UK has hit a 16-month all-time high, the latest figures from the SMMT reveal. UK car manufacturing rose significantly by 15.6 per cent in January to 127,382 units, and engine production rose by five per cent to 227,161. Meanwhile UK commercial vehicle output fell by 1.2 per cent for the month [...]

NEW car registrations rose 0.03 per cent to 128,853 units in January, according to the latest figures from the SMMT. Diesel and alternatively-fuelled cars increased volumes by 6.3 per cent and 17.7 per cent respectively. The new car market is expected to remain stable in 2012, dipping just by one per cent to 1.92 million [...]

CAR production was up by almost six per cent in last year reveals the SMMT’s latest automotive manufacturing data. Total car production in the UK was up 5.8 per cent to 1,343,810 units in 2011. A figure helped by a 1.6 per cent rise in December. UK engine production also rose, and was up by [...]

DEMAND for new cars was down 4.4 per cent in 2011 compared to the year before but were ahead of predictions, the latest SMMT figures reveal. A total of 1,941,253 units were registered in 2011, down 4.4 per cent on 2010, but ahead of the SMMT’s prediction of 1.92 million units forecast. The 2011 figures [...]

NEW car registrations in December were down 3.7 per cent, the latest SMMT figures reveal. The month saw 119,188 units registered, and the market in quarter four was down 1.8 per cent. December was the 10th monthly decline in the year. December’s decline contributed towards 2011′s  fall of 4.4 per cent in total. Compared to [...]

THE DVLA’s consultation to close local offices around the UK is sad – but it could be an opportunity for dealers. That’s the opinion of SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt who thinks the review of DVLA office’s rolls could be an opportunity for the motor trade. Everitt told Car Dealer that although the potential closures [...]

NEW car registrations fell 4.2 per cent in November, the latest figures from the SMMT reveal. 134,027  cars were registered in the month but was some 5,000 above forecast, and the market looks set to better full year forecast of 1.923m units. ‘While the November new car market saw a 4.2 per cent dip, the [...]

THE Chancellor has delivered his Autumn Statement today – and for the UK automotive industry there’s some good news. George Osbourne said the R&D tax credit system would be reviewed, meaning victory for the automotive and broader manufacturing sector. The announcement follows a campaign by the SMMT and EEF to have the credit process revised. The [...]

THE SMMT is calling for investment and growth action in the Government’s Autumn Statement to boost UK competitiveness. In a letter to the Chancellor, the SMMT has called on the Government to use next week’s statement to ‘deliver tangible changes to unlock private sector investment and support export-led growth’. ‘Action to build the competitiveness of [...]

THE SMMT’s president Nigel Stein believes ‘support for manufacturing will drive economic growth’. Speaking at the organisation’s 95th annual dinner which was attended by over 850 senior industry figures, politicians and stakeholders, Stein called on the government to invest in R&D. ‘There is a continued shift in government attitude towards manufacturing. ‘Policy makers are increasingly [...]

NEW car registrations were  2.6 per cent up in Otober, the latest figures from the SMMT reveal. Registrations rose by 2.6 per cent in the month to 134,944 units, the second increase in three months. ‘October’s new car market rose 2.6 per cent on last year – a positive result despite the uncertain economic climate,’ [...]

NEW car registrations were 0.8 per cent down in September, the latest figures from the SMMT reveal. The registrations are ‘stable’ and are ‘in line with expectations’. The SMMT boss has even fronted a video talking about the September figures – see below. 332,476 new cars were registered, just 0.8 per cent down on last [...]

FORD has once again dominated the new car sales figures with the Fiesta taking the top spot and the Focus in second. 15,647 Fiestas were sold in September with its larger brother – the Focus – selling 14,754 units. The Ford duo also remain top of the year-to-date figures, with 77,198 units to the Fiesta’s [...]

THE Ford Fiesta continues to reign supreme both in the monthly and year-to-date registrations figures. In August – which saw registrations rise for the first time since June 2010 – Ford sold 3,213 Fiestas. Trailing in second was the Vauxhall Corsa which has 2,901 units to its name, and following not far behind was Ford’s [...]

NEW car registrations were up 7.3 per cent in August, the lastest figures from the SMMT reveal. It’s the first rise since June 2010 but ‘the outlook remains challenging’. The SMMT’s chief executive Paul Everitt said: ‘New car registrations in August rose for the first time since June 2010, up 7.3 per cent to 59,346 [...]

AUTOMOTIVE manufacturing in the UK ‘continues to out perform the broader economy’ says the SMMT. Car manufacturing rose 1.3 per cent in July and was up 3.7 per cent over the first seven months of 2011, while commercial vehicle output declined 5.9 per cent in July and was down 5.1 per cent over the January-July period. [...]

FORD has secured the top two places in the best-sellers list for July, the latest SMMT data reveals. Family-favourite, the Fiesta, once again holds onto the top spot with 6,695 cars sold in July, followed by the Focus with 6,235 cars sold to its name. The Vauxhall Corsa’s and Astra’s third and fifth places respectively [...]

NEW car registrations were down 3.5 per cent in July, the lastest figures from the SMMT reveal. 131,634 were sold in the month, and the SMMT says the market is still in line with its expectations of 1.9m units this year. The SMMT’s chief executive Paul Everitt said: ‘New car registration figures fell marginally by 3.5 [...]

NEW car registrations were down 6.2 per cent in June, the latest figures from the SMMT reveal. 183,125 cars were sold in the month, and the SMMT says the market is still in line with its expectations of 1.9m units this year. ‘June new car registrations continued to perform in line with industry expectations with [...]

Despite a blip in May, the picture surrounding the UK automotive industry is in fine form says the SMMT. While car manufacturing fell by 4.9 per cent in May, production levels remain up 4.6 per cent over the first five months of 2011. UK engine production also rose by four per cent in May and [...]