UK car production declined -19.2% in the first six months of the year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, with 95,792 fewer vehicles built compared with the same period in 2021. Just 403,131 units were built, representing the weakest first half since the pandemic-ravaged 2020 and worse than 2009 when the global financial crisis decimated demand. The main cause remains … [Read more...]
Mid-sized vans face new EU examination for operators
New regulations that bring smaller light commercial vehicles travelling to the EU under the requirement to have an International Operator’s Licence will place key demands on fleets in the future, says FleetCheck. The fleet software company reports that, from 2 May, all organisations running LCVs of between 2.5-3.5 tonnes will need to obtain the accreditation as part of the UK-EU Trade and … [Read more...]
Motor industry lies at heart of world trade
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called on government to put the automotive sector at the heart of future trade negotiations, after a new report confirms vehicles are the UK’s single most valuable goods trade export. Vehicle export revenues reached £27 billion in 2020, making them more valuable to the UK than power-generating machinery and gold, even during a year when … [Read more...]
UK car making lowest in generation
UK car making slumped last year to the lowest since 1984, hit by Covid-19 interruptions and a collapse in demand for most of the year. The car makers' body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief Mike Hawes said it was a "dreadful year" but added that a comprehensive vaccination programme might restore buying and production. Output was 920,928 vehicles, a 29.3% fall on … [Read more...]
Ford secure loan guarantees for Dagenham engine plant
As Ford prepare to close their Bridgend Engine Plant this year with the loss of about 1,200 jobs, the company has secured a UK Government underwritten £500M loan to support its Dagenham engine plant. The guarantee covers 80 percent of a £625M loan from commercial banks to support the automaker’s substantial exports of engines and transmissions from Britain. The guarantee will help Ford to … [Read more...]
UK Border plan is helpful, now get deal done say FTA
Logistics as an industry is highly flexible and can quickly adapt to circumstances, as we have seen throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Nevertheless it is good to have confirmation of how goods are expected to move between the UK and EU from the start of next year. "We are advising our members to do all they can to get Brexit ready, for example adapting their systems to produce the right border … [Read more...]
UK Global Tariff outlines trade after Brexit
Britain has outlined how it plans to trade with the world after it leaves the European Union at the end of 2020. It will replace the European Union’s external tariff with a 10% duty on cars but cut tens of billions of pounds of supply chain charges. This will pave the way for trade deals with the United States and the Brussels-based bloc, helping JLR in particular compete with Audis and … [Read more...]
Coronavirus planning risk to no-deal Brexit, warn ACEA
A no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 risks undoing efforts to get the auto industry back on track after the coronavirus of recent weeks, says the European car makers’ director general Eric-Mark Huitema. While Europe still grapples with the health, social and economic impacts of the coronavirus, and EU automobile manufacturers battle for survival, the second round of negotiations on the future … [Read more...]
Brexit’s been good for some in automotive sector
The UK transport industry has seen earnings on its investments in the EU rocket by more than 400% since the Brexit vote, the latest Office of National Statistics has revealed. UK transport trade earnings from investments in the EU rose from £177 million in 2015 to £1billion three years later – up 476% compared with before the vote. Firms involved in transportation had £3.6 billion invested in … [Read more...]
UK Automotive needs favourable Brexit deal, says SMMT president
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has urged all parties to put UK Automotive at the heart of their economic and trade policies. Setting out the industry’s priorities for a new government, the trade body called for an ambitious, world-beating Brexit trade deal to maintain the sector’s competitiveness and ability to deliver innovation, productivity and prosperity for … [Read more...]
