FirstGroup has completed the acquisition of RATP Dev’s sightseeing operations in London and Bath. Currently operating under the brand Tootbus, the acquisition will strengthen FirstGroup’s presence across London and the south-west of England. While the operations are primarily a sightseeing business, with a fleet of 63 buses – 42 in London and 21 in Bath – and about 190… Continue reading FirstGroup acquires sightseeing bus operations
Author: SMMT_UK_Manufacturers Official News
Logistics UK calls for truck stop improvements
Logistics UK is calling for a national review of the availability of rest facilities for logistics workers, and for truck stops to be incorporated into planning frameworks. It follows the publication, this month of Transport Focus’ Lorry Drivers’ Facilities Survey Year 2 summary report, which highlighted increased dissatisfaction among HGV drivers regarding the quality of… Continue reading Logistics UK calls for truck stop improvements
Joint investment driving regional green growth
This week I saw first-hand how industry and government investment is transforming manufacturing across the UK, visiting a major OEM’s former transmission site in Halewood, North West England, which is now making electric drive units – critical components for the transition to zero emission cars and vans. While the facility had been successfully producing internal… Continue reading Joint investment driving regional green growth
Five minutes with… Claudio Passerini, President, Bus Business Unit, Iveco Bus
Tell us about your Crossway Elec model? The Crossway Elec, the second electric version of the iconic Crossway range, has been designed to decarbonise school and intercity transport. It stands out for its flexibility and modularity in battery choice, offering tailored autonomy for both short trips and longer journeys of up to 500km, while preserving… Continue reading Five minutes with… Claudio Passerini, President, Bus Business Unit, Iveco Bus
Keeping it clean: How HVO helps operators meet green targets
With fleet operators currently drawing up plans to acquire electric vehicles, a significant number are also switching to HVO fuel for their existing diesel vehicles to help them meet short- and medium-term decarbonisation targets. HVO – or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – is an advanced, renewable diesel fuel, which can be produced from waste fats and… Continue reading Keeping it clean: How HVO helps operators meet green targets
SMMT International Update December 2025
Wrapping up a busy year of overseas activity Ruta Aisthorpe, Director of Global Operations and Partnerships, shares about international activities for the December edition of the SMMT International Update. This comes at the end of a busy year for SMMT International in which we have supported 125+ UK automotive companies across a wide range of trade missions… Continue reading SMMT International Update December 2025
New Members – November
Find out below who has joined the premier automotive trade association and what they get from membership: SMMT data services Extensive market data providing key information to assist marketing and promotional activity, and future business opportunities. Developing business opportunities SMMT’s targeted events and Automotive Supplier Finder (ASF) service helps facilitate opportunities by matching buyers to… Continue reading New Members – November
A disquieting month for the UK’s new car market
November’s new car data offers a reminder that the road to net zero is anything but straightforward. Overall registrations slipped by -1.6%, reflecting not just a dip in private buyer enthusiasm but a market grappling with a challenging economic backdrop. Electrified vehicles dominated popular demand, making up more than half of all registrations for a… Continue reading A disquieting month for the UK’s new car market
SMMT statement on Automated Vehicles consultation
SMMT statement on government’s Critical Minerals Strategy Safety is paramount for the automotive sector and this consultation is crucial to enable safe and responsible rollout of self-driving vehicles in Great Britain. Given the intricacies of Britain’s road network – especially in urban areas – it’s vital that industry works with government and other stakeholders to… Continue reading SMMT statement on Automated Vehicles consultation
New van registrations decline in November
November saw a -22.2% decline in new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations with 23,570 units delivered, according to new SMMT data published this week. The downturn affected all van sizes, including the largest vans – which represent almost 70% of the overall market. Despite a volume fall, the BEV share did rise in November, up 25.3%,… Continue reading New van registrations decline in November