NEWS

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 [...]

MAY saw new car sales fall by 1.7 per cent the latest figures by the SMMT published today reveal. 150,431 cars were registered in the month, with the market just 1.7 per cent or 2,664 units down on May 2010. Registrations over the first five months of 2011 were down just 7.3 per cent to [...]

DARA O Briain has been named as guest speaker for the SMMT’s Annual Dinner later this year. The dinner, which is to be held at the London Hilton, Park Lane, on November 22, will include an appearance by the comedian and TV presenter as guest speaker. It’s an event which is regarded as one which brings together senior [...]

DON’T feel bad, things are going to be alright – at least that’s the message from the SMMT’s Paul Everitt. Speaking to Car Dealer Magazine, Everitt said car sales will rebound, but warned it could take a while yet. ‘I think the truth is that we are in for a long haul here,’ said the [...]

Motor Codes is planning a code of practice for used car sales, and Car Dealer has been asked to help shape it. Foillowing the success of the Code of Practice for Service and Repair outlets, Motor Codes is to begin a consultation with the industry for a Code of Practice for the second hand car [...]

THE SMMT has revealed the speakers attending its ‘Moving towards an ultra-low carbon future’ session at its summit. At its International Automotive Summit to be held in Westminster on June 28, the technology-focused session will include presentations from internationally renowned experts in high-efficiency internal combustion, hybrid power, electric vehicles and low-energy manufacture. Constantinos Vafidis, Fiat powertrain [...]

APRIL saw new car registrations fall by 7.4 per cent the latest figures published by the SMMT reveal. The April new car market fell by 7.4 per cent to 137,746 units. This was the tenth successive decline in volumes. The market was 1.5 per cent ahead of forecast and on par with the 2010 market [...]

THE Ford Fiesta was the number one best-seller in the month of April, the SMMT has revealed. More than 6,700 Fiestas were sold during the month. The Volkswagen Golf was second with 4,973 units to its name, while the top three was rounded off by the Vauxhall Astra with 4,900 cars sold. The Vauxhall Corsa [...]