Commercial vehicle production falls in the UK

Commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing in the UK dropped by 2.9 per cent in the first six months of the year as 56,956 vans, trucks, taxis, buses and coaches left factory gates, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Despite the year-on-year decline, wrapped up by a two per cent drop in output in June as temporary supply chain constraints impacted production, overall levels remain high given last year’s bumper first half and fulfilment of post-Covid delivery backlogs.

Year-to-date output remains almost a third (31.3%) higher than the pre-pandemic five year average, thanks to investment in new plants, models and technologies, and robust export demand.

Overseas shipments of UK-built CVs – many of them zero emission – were up 3.6 per cent in the first half at 39,168 units, equivalent to more than two thirds of all output, with the EU taking the lion’s share (97.2%), followed by Australia (1.2%) and the US (0.5%). This growth was, however, unable to offset a decline of 14.8 per cent in the domestic market.