Growth in UK bus and coach market suspended at 15.8%, as March lockdown measures halt new orders

18 May 2020 #Bus & Coach #Registrations #SMMT News Bus and coach registrations up 15.8% in Q1 with 1,403 units joining UK roads. Minibus demand drives overall increase, as registrations more than double to 941. Overall growth comes off back of particularly weak first quarter in 2019. UK new bus and coach registrations rose 15.8%… Continue reading Growth in UK bus and coach market suspended at 15.8%, as March lockdown measures halt new orders

Automotive manufacturing sector ready to ramp up production, as SMMT publishes safe restart guidance

New sector-specific guidance for UK automotive manufacturing industry released by SMMT today. Manufacturers nationwide begin to welcome back staff, with comprehensive safety measures covering workstations, in and outbound logistics, communal areas and staff entrances. Some major automotive plants already working, with more due back before end of May, as global markets exit lockdown ahead of… Continue reading Automotive manufacturing sector ready to ramp up production, as SMMT publishes safe restart guidance

Automotive aftermarket sector ready to keep millions of British vehicles roadworthy as SMMT launches COVID-19 guidance

New automotive sector-specific guidance for aftermarket providers published by GEA, IAAF, IMI, SMTA and SMMT today. MOT testers and service and repair sector ready to welcome back more customers with comprehensive COVID-19 safety measures across all points of interaction. Sector can cope with significant ramp-up in demand but calls for end of six-month MOT extension… Continue reading Automotive aftermarket sector ready to keep millions of British vehicles roadworthy as SMMT launches COVID-19 guidance

Auto retail sector ready to get Britain moving again, as NFDA and SMMT publish safe restart guidance

New automotive sector-specific guidance for vehicle retailers published by NFDA and SMMT today. Dealerships ready to welcome back staff and customers, with comprehensive safety measures covering showroom interactions, vehicle demos and test-drives. Industry welcomes clarification on auto retail click & collect, and calls for showrooms to be re-opened urgently to help reboot manufacturing and support… Continue reading Auto retail sector ready to get Britain moving again, as NFDA and SMMT publish safe restart guidance

SMMT statement on ‘click and collect’ services

13 May 2020 #SMMT News Mike Hawes, chief executive at SMMT said:  We welcome today’s clarification that automotive retailers can now operate contactless ‘click and collect’ services from outside their premises, although note that showrooms themselves must still remain closed. There is pent up demand in the market, and the sector is committed to ensuring… Continue reading SMMT statement on ‘click and collect’ services

Record -97.3% fall for UK new car market in April as coronavirus shuts showrooms

UK new car market falls by precipitous -97.3% in April as coronavirus crisis shuts showrooms. 4,321 new cars registered in the month as deliveries continue to frontline workers and organisations. Latest SMMT outlook expects 1.68 million new car registrations this year, the lowest since 1992. Sector calls for auto retail to be in first wave… Continue reading Record -97.3% fall for UK new car market in April as coronavirus shuts showrooms

UK engine production declines -40.0% in March as coronavirus hits output

30 April 2020 #SMMT News #UK Manufacturing 146,615 engines produced in March as UK production declines -40.0%.1 Production for domestic car plants decreases -35.7%, with steeper fall for exports, down -42.4%. More than 598,000 engines built in Britain in first three months, with 59.4% exported. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, These figures show the… Continue reading UK engine production declines -40.0% in March as coronavirus hits output

Commercial vehicle production down -41.8% as coronavirus takes toll on UK manufacturing

British commercial vehicle output falls -41.8% in March, as coronavirus lockdown measures cause plant closures nationwide.1 Production falls for both domestic and overseas markets, down -43.4% and -40.6% respectively. £82 billion auto manufacturing sector calls on government to support safe and sustainable restart to drive UK economic recovery. New SMMT survey reveals 42.1% of CV… Continue reading Commercial vehicle production down -41.8% as coronavirus takes toll on UK manufacturing

UK car production falls -37.6% in March as coronavirus halts automotive manufacturing

British car production falls -37.6% in March as coronavirus crisis shuts factories. Output for UK and overseas markets down, -36.8% and -37.8% respectively. New independent outlook reveals at least £8.2bn cost to industry if factories closed until mid-May.1 £82 billion auto manufacturing sector calls on government to support safe and sustainable restart to drive UK… Continue reading UK car production falls -37.6% in March as coronavirus halts automotive manufacturing