The production of commercial vehicles – trucks, vans, buses and coaches – fell by 78% in November, according to the latest industry figures.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) report that overall vehicle production fell by 14.3% during the month, with car output also down – although only by 14%.
Just 2,806 commercial units were produced – 9,943 fewer than in the same month in 2024. 63,126 cars came off the production line.
This was the 8th successive month that van, truck, bus and coach volumes declined, and the fourth month in a row when car manufacturing fell. However, the SMMT figures indicate that car production is gradually getting back to normal after the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack in August. Commercial output has been hit badly by the closure of Vauxhall’s Luton plant earlier in the year and consolidation of its manufacturing to Ellesmere Port.
Overall car production for the UK market rose by 46.9% to 14,589 units, while output for export declined by 10.6% as shipments to the top five export markets – the EU, US, Turkey, China and Japan – all fell.
There was a boost for exports as the European Commission unveiled proposals that would allow carmakers to continue selling petrol and diesel cars beyond 2035.
Existing rules in the EU require new vehicles sold from that date to be zero emission, but with the automotive sector lobbying for concessions, new, weaker targets have been published. This package of proposals is designed to ease the transition to low carbon transport and support the European car manufacturing industry as it makes the switch.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, explained: “Growth is expected next year [2026], with the industry poised to reap the benefits of recent UK Government backing – notably new funding, modernised trade deals and efforts to reduce energy costs.
“The growth this package seeks to create, however, would be undermined if the UK becomes the main unintended victim of new EU local content requirements.
“We must instead work on a pragmatic and inclusive approach, one which protects and enhances competitiveness across the European automotive ecosystem.”
