New light commercial vehicle registrations down every month this year after -14.8% fall in June. Two consecutive months of decline in pick-up registrations following April’s double-cab tax change. Electric van demand up 52.8% in 2025 but still just half the market share mandated. Industry calls for acceleration of infrastructure rollout to encourage operators to switch. … Continue reading Van market down every month in first half of 2025
Author: SMMT_UK_Manufacturers Official News
Bumper June for UK new car market as one in four buyers goes electric
New car market up 6.7% in June to 191,316 units as manufacturers use every channel to drive registrations to highest level since 2019. Battery electric car demand rises 39.1% to 47,354 units with one in four buyers going electric – but still below mandated levels. Manufacturer discounting continues to shore up EV demand with mandate bill… Continue reading Bumper June for UK new car market as one in four buyers goes electric
CV output tumbles in May
But new Industrial and Trade Strategies help boost Britain’s prospects for CV manufacturing growth The UK’s latest commercial vehicle manufacturing data published by SMMT shows a tough picture in May, with output down by -53.6% to 2,087 units – a sharp decline that reflects the impact of recent plant closures, which will continue to affect… Continue reading CV output tumbles in May
Five minutes with… Ash Armstrong, eConsultancy Manager, Daimler Truck UK
What do you think are the major challenges for the CV and truck, in particular, industry at the moment? One of the biggest challenges for operators at the moment are the pressures to decarbonise, no matter the cost. In current times – where every penny counts – we must play our part in helping our customers… Continue reading Five minutes with… Ash Armstrong, eConsultancy Manager, Daimler Truck UK
‘Degree-level’ sales apprenticeship launched by Volvo Trucks
Volvo Trucks has joined forces with Middlesex University to launch the commercial vehicle industry’s first degree-level Truck Sales Apprenticeship, with the inaugural intake of apprentices set to commence this September. The initiative has been pioneered by Hannah Mayo, Director of New Vehicle Sales for Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland in a new approach to broaden… Continue reading ‘Degree-level’ sales apprenticeship launched by Volvo Trucks
End of the road for gas-powered trucks in the UK?
With the UK’s 2040 end-of-sale of new, non-zero emission HGVs on the horizon, the commercial vehicle sector is rightly planning ahead for a future of battery electric and hydrogen trucks. With decarbonisation is an increasingly important feature of the strategic plans for truck companies, gas power is still relevant as a useful transitional fuel to… Continue reading End of the road for gas-powered trucks in the UK?
Logistics company’s London electric truck trial
Intermodal transport and supply chain logistics provider, ECS, is deploying electric trucks in London for a 16-month first-and-last-mile trial. ECS is carrying out the trial using electric trucks in a bid to cut emissions and support a rail-focused logistics strategy. The aim is to not only reduce CO2 emissions but also make the supply chain… Continue reading Logistics company’s London electric truck trial
SMMT International Update July 2025
Trade and industrial strategies champion UK Automotive Simon Winterbottom, International Manager, shares about upcoming activities for the July edition of the SMMT International Update. The publication last week of the UK’s Trade Strategy represents a huge opportunity for British automotive businesses to grow internationally – growth that could be worth billions to our economy – with a… Continue reading SMMT International Update July 2025
SMMT statement on UK-US trade deal kicking into gear
The implementation of the new trading agreement between the UK and US is good news for US customers and a huge relief for the UK automotive companies that export to this critically important market. It immediately slashes the punitive tariffs that brought the US export market to a standstill and threatened the viability of some… Continue reading SMMT statement on UK-US trade deal kicking into gear
A landmark week for UK industry
The publication of an Industrial Strategy on Monday – one with automotive at its heart – is the policy framework the sector has long-fought for and government has now addressed. Such a strategy – long-term, cross-Government and aligned to a trade strategy (itself published Monday) is the basis on which the UK automotive sector can… Continue reading A landmark week for UK industry