The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has published new monthly data for April. Production is up substantially on the same month last year, with the vast majority of vehicles being destined for overseas markets.
Some 66,527 units were made in April, 9.9% more than in April 2022. Of these, 54,820 units were exported, mostly to EU countries (58.4%). The production of various electric vehicles (EVs) continued to increase, with volumes now accounting for 37.7% of total production.
The chief executive of the SMMT, Mike Hawes, said that the figures are:
“…good news for the sector and the many thousands of jobs and livelihoods it sustains. These figures also show how exports, particularly to Europe, continue to be the foundation of British automotive manufacturing so we must do all we can to safeguard the competitiveness of these trading relationships.”
He added that the immediate challenge was to address the rules of origin that will soon take effect for the EU–UK trade deal. Some carmakers have said that the lack of battery manufacturing in the UK and EU means that producers on both sides will find it impossible to respect these rules for EVs, meaning that tariffs may increase the cost to consumers.
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