Click to enlarge.
UK vehicle production* fell by -14.3% in November with 65,932 units leaving factory lines, according to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).** The decline was the result of a slight reduction in car output, down -1.7% to 63,126 units, and a much steeper -78.0% drop in commercial vehicle (CV) output, with just 2806 units produced – 9943 fewer than in the same month last year.
“Car production is normalizing following August’s cyber incident and, with the manufacture of a new EV model starting this week in Sunderland, the sector can look forward with some optimism. [read about Britain’s largest auto employer – Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing – AutoCrat] Growth is expected next year, with the industry poised to reap the benefits of recent UK government backing – notably new funding, modernized trade deals and efforts to reduce energy costs. The growth this package seeks to create, however, would be undermined if the UK becomes the main unintended victim of new EU local content requirements. We must instead work on a pragmatic and inclusive approach, one which protects and enhances competitiveness across the European automotive ecosystem,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
This was the fourth successive monthly decline in car production, just 1090 fewer cars were made than in the same month last year as production gradually normalizes following the cyber incident at Britain’s largest automotive employer. (See: Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing) Van, truck, bus and coach volumes, meanwhile, declined for the eighth month in a row, reflecting the consolidation of two plants into one in the North West.
[Recently, Ford Motor announced a series of changes to its business in Europe, including new leadership to drive the strategic direction, and a European product offensive that will bring a new generation of multi-energy vehicles to customers in Europe. Ford also announced a strategic partnership with Renault to collaborate in the development of electric vehicles in both the commercial and passenger segments. – Autocrat]
Overall car production for the UK market rose by 46.9% to 14,589 units, while output for export declined -10.6% as shipments to the top five export markets – the EU, US, Türkiye, China and Japan – all fell. In total, 48,537 cars were produced for global markets, representing more than three quarters (76.9%) of total output.
The news came in a what SMMT characterized “as mixed week for the sector, with the start of next generation volume electric car production in Sunderland contrasting with the European Commission’s plans to tie new additional flexibilities on CO2 targets and public subsidies for the greening of corporate fleets to cars and vans ‘made in the EU.’ The proposal by the EU to permit a greater range of technologies beyond 2035 will put the UK out of step with its biggest market and biggest source of vehicles. We need to avoid unnecessary complexity and uncertainty for businesses considering investment decisions in the UK.
“The new EU automotive package is intended to ease the transition to low carbon products and strengthen the European automotive industry. The UK automotive industry, however, has cautioned that excluding like-minded trading partners – especially the UK, given it is the largest destination for EU finished vehicles, while the EU is the biggest buyer of British vehicle and parts exports – would be counterproductive, with damaging consequences across the Channel.
“The measures outlined so far risk raising costs and limiting choice for EU consumers, impacting supply chain resilience and undermining regional integration. Moreover, it will damage the mutually beneficial trading relationships that have been agreed over the past few years. Instead, the UK automotive industry is calling for the UK and EU to deepen their industrial partnership, maximizing the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA), with UK-made automotive content to be included under any ‘Made in Europe’ definition to boost mutual competitiveness.,” SMMT said.
*AutoInformed on
**The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says it is one of the largest and most influential trade associations, representing the automotive industry in the UK. “The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy, integral to growth, the delivery of net zero and the UK as a global trade hub. It contributes £92 billion turnover and £25 billion value added to the UK economy and invested £5 billion in R&D, with 183,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and some 796,000 in total across the wider automotive industry. Many of these automotive manufacturing jobs are outside London and the South-East, with wages that are 8% higher than the UK average. The sector accounts for 13.4% of total UK exports of goods with more than 140 countries importing UK produced vehicles, generating £108 billion of trade in total automotive imports and exports.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
November 2025 UK Vehicle Production Plunges
Click to enlarge.
UK vehicle production* fell by -14.3% in November with 65,932 units leaving factory lines, according to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).** The decline was the result of a slight reduction in car output, down -1.7% to 63,126 units, and a much steeper -78.0% drop in commercial vehicle (CV) output, with just 2806 units produced – 9943 fewer than in the same month last year.
“Car production is normalizing following August’s cyber incident and, with the manufacture of a new EV model starting this week in Sunderland, the sector can look forward with some optimism. [read about Britain’s largest auto employer – Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing – AutoCrat] Growth is expected next year, with the industry poised to reap the benefits of recent UK government backing – notably new funding, modernized trade deals and efforts to reduce energy costs. The growth this package seeks to create, however, would be undermined if the UK becomes the main unintended victim of new EU local content requirements. We must instead work on a pragmatic and inclusive approach, one which protects and enhances competitiveness across the European automotive ecosystem,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive.
This was the fourth successive monthly decline in car production, just 1090 fewer cars were made than in the same month last year as production gradually normalizes following the cyber incident at Britain’s largest automotive employer. (See: Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing) Van, truck, bus and coach volumes, meanwhile, declined for the eighth month in a row, reflecting the consolidation of two plants into one in the North West.
[Recently, Ford Motor announced a series of changes to its business in Europe, including new leadership to drive the strategic direction, and a European product offensive that will bring a new generation of multi-energy vehicles to customers in Europe. Ford also announced a strategic partnership with Renault to collaborate in the development of electric vehicles in both the commercial and passenger segments. – Autocrat]
Overall car production for the UK market rose by 46.9% to 14,589 units, while output for export declined -10.6% as shipments to the top five export markets – the EU, US, Türkiye, China and Japan – all fell. In total, 48,537 cars were produced for global markets, representing more than three quarters (76.9%) of total output.
The news came in a what SMMT characterized “as mixed week for the sector, with the start of next generation volume electric car production in Sunderland contrasting with the European Commission’s plans to tie new additional flexibilities on CO2 targets and public subsidies for the greening of corporate fleets to cars and vans ‘made in the EU.’ The proposal by the EU to permit a greater range of technologies beyond 2035 will put the UK out of step with its biggest market and biggest source of vehicles. We need to avoid unnecessary complexity and uncertainty for businesses considering investment decisions in the UK.
“The new EU automotive package is intended to ease the transition to low carbon products and strengthen the European automotive industry. The UK automotive industry, however, has cautioned that excluding like-minded trading partners – especially the UK, given it is the largest destination for EU finished vehicles, while the EU is the biggest buyer of British vehicle and parts exports – would be counterproductive, with damaging consequences across the Channel.
“The measures outlined so far risk raising costs and limiting choice for EU consumers, impacting supply chain resilience and undermining regional integration. Moreover, it will damage the mutually beneficial trading relationships that have been agreed over the past few years. Instead, the UK automotive industry is calling for the UK and EU to deepen their industrial partnership, maximizing the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA), with UK-made automotive content to be included under any ‘Made in Europe’ definition to boost mutual competitiveness.,” SMMT said.
*AutoInformed on
**The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says it is one of the largest and most influential trade associations, representing the automotive industry in the UK. “The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy, integral to growth, the delivery of net zero and the UK as a global trade hub. It contributes £92 billion turnover and £25 billion value added to the UK economy and invested £5 billion in R&D, with 183,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and some 796,000 in total across the wider automotive industry. Many of these automotive manufacturing jobs are outside London and the South-East, with wages that are 8% higher than the UK average. The sector accounts for 13.4% of total UK exports of goods with more than 140 countries importing UK produced vehicles, generating £108 billion of trade in total automotive imports and exports.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.