Tag Archives: SMMT

UK New Car Registrations at 2M during 2025

Posted on 6 January 2026 by Ken Zino

The UK new car market grew for the third year in a row in 2025, passing the two million mark for the first time since the pandemic, with 2,020,520 new car registrations, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).* Internal combustion engines remain the biggest selling powertrain but there remains growing demand for electrified cars with one in four buyers choosing electric vehicles. [There also continues industry lobbying demands to delay and use taxpayer subsidies to support the sales of EVs. -AutoCrat] Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

November 2025 UK Vehicle Production Plunges

Posted on 19 December 2025 by Ken Zino

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. [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] Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, environment, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

October UK Car and Commercial Vehicle Production Drops

Posted on 28 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Car production in the UK fell in October, down -23.8%, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Only 59,010 vehicles shipped, 18,474 fewer than in the same month last year. [read AutoInformed.com about Britain’s largest auto employer here: Jaguar Land Rover Cyber-Attack Effects Ongoing – AutoCrat]

“The news comes two days after the Budget in which the Chancellor announced a number of welcome competitiveness-boosting measures, including a further £1.5 billion in automotive transformation funding, and the deferral of regulation to end critical employee car ownership schemes into the next parliament – a move the industry had warned could lead to annual losses of £1 billion and put up to 5000 jobs at stake. It also comes after government published a consultation on its proposed British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) which should bring down sky-high energy costs for manufacturers,” SMMT said. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, news analysis, sales, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen ID – Money Back in 100 Days

Posted on 3 November 2025 by Ken Zino

In a marketing move that likely will have international implications, Volkswagen* in the U.K. today announced the so-called ID. Promise. This allows its retail electric car customers between 80 and 100 days after collection to ‘drive and decide.’ The time frame in which people can return vehicles is from the point that they take delivery of their new cars. They just need to inform their retailer, who will then arrange a refund minus a 3% fixed usage charge, as well as the cost to repair any damage or modifications to the cars since they were handed over.**

“Official figures show more than 1.3 million UK motorists have already converted to electric, and time and time again our customers tell us they would never go back to petrol or diesel having made the move,” said Rod McLeod, Director of Volkswagen UK. “But there are many more people who want to go electric but feel unsure. This straightforward initiative gives them the perfect opportunity to ‘drive and decide’ with no strings attached.” Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, connected vehicles, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, environment, global warming, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SMMT Lauds Launch of UK Industrial Strategy

Posted on 24 June 2025 by Ken Zino

The UK automotive industry today has vowed to build on the foundations laid by government’s Industrial Strategy published yesterday with a 10-point plan to drive the UK back into the top 15 of global vehicle manufacturing locations by 2030 and deliver a £50 billion economic boost over the next decade. {See footnote 1] This is from the home of the Brexit disaster of  British political thinking.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) speaking at the industry’s annual Summit in London today said “Government’s long-term Industrial Strategy, including the Drive35 £2.5 billion auto capital and R&D fund, recognizes automotive as a pillar of advanced manufacturing, integral to the world leading innovation that creates the high value jobs, wealth and economic growth that are vital to our country’s future. Now we must make the most of that position and put in place the right conditions for growth.” Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, design and styling, economy, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, financial results, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK Car Production Down. Trump’s Tariffs Threaten Future

Posted on 25 April 2025 by Ken Zino

“A March uplift to manufacturing is overdue good news, although the performance was boosted by a comparatively weaker month last year, when holiday timings and product changeovers combined to reduce output. With the last quarter showing demand for British-built cars rising overseas, navigating the new era of trade uncertainty is now the major challenge. Government has rightly recognized automotive manufacturing’s critical role in Britain’s export economy and must now show urgency and creativity to deliver a deal that supports our competitiveness, spurs domestic demand for the latest cleanest vehicles, and helps factory lines flourish,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Climate Change: UK Automotive CO2 Output Falls in 2021

Posted on 11 July 2022 by Ken Zino

The report also pulls together data from where its manufacturing members are in meeting the so-called Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)* Net-Zero Standard, targeting net-zero manufacturing facilities by 2030, and across the company’s entire supply chain by 2039. The question haunting the industry and people inhabiting Planet Earth as the death dealing effects of Global Warming continue unabated is whether this is too little, too late? Continue reading →

Posted in environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK Plans to Up EV Chargers to 300K by 2030.

Posted on 25 March 2022 by Ken Zino

 “Ambitious and innovative chargepoint operators are already committed to installing an additional 15,000 rapid chargepoints across England’s entire road network, a quadrupling of the current offer,  and over 100,000 on-street chargepoints by 2025,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, energy, global warming, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

English Covid Crisis Reigns. November Auto Sales Drop 27.4%

Posted on 4 December 2020 by Ken Zino

During November when showrooms across England had to close due to new lockdown restrictions, the industry recorded 113,781 new registrations, taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 Great Recession. Continue reading →

Posted in economy, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

British Car Manufacturing Declines -19.6% In November

Posted on 22 December 2018 by Ken Zino

While home production fell by -1.9% in the month, exports experienced a steeper -22.8% drop – falling for the fifth month in a row. Just over 105,000 cars were exported to global markets in November, still representing some eight in every 10 cars leaving British factories. Continue reading →

Posted in economy, manufacturing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment