UK car production fell sharply last month, marking the worst July performance for the industry since 1956, a trade group has said.  The global microchip shortage, staff being affected by the so-called pingdemic, and shutdowns meant just 53,438 cars were built in the month. That was a drop of 37.6% compared to July last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.  It comes as sales of second-hand vehicles are soaring. Overall car production in the year to date is almost ... Read more

Bentley Motors has posted the company’s 2021 half-year performance, with sales and profit levels unmatched in Bentley’s 102-year history. This includes an operating profit of €178 million, greater than any profit figure posted for a full-year period by the company. Moreover, retail sales increased by 50% from a pre-COVID 2019 figure of 4,785 to 7,199 in 2021. These sales were well-balanced between the luxury marque’s three model lines, Bentayga (2,767), Continental GT (2,318) and Flying Spur (2,063). https://www.mtdmfg.com/news/bentleys-sales-and-profit-levels-unmatched-in-its-102-year-history/ Some of the UK's largest commercial ... Read more

May engine production more than doubles but export growth sluggish UK factories made 116,639 engines in May, more than double May 2020’s output. May 2021 output down -47.6% on five-year average for the month. Year-to-date output rises 18.8% with increased production for the domestic market. https://www.smmt.co.uk/2021/06/may-engine-production-more-than-doubles-but-export-growth-sluggish/ UK commercial vehicle (CV) production increased to 6,243 units in May, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). For the second consecutive month CV output saw a significant ... Read more

Aston Martin’s turnaround is gathering pace as the car maker’s new owners see early signs of progress. Revenues were up 153% to £224.4m in the first quarter of the year, with pre-tax losses narrowly significantly, from £110m to £42m. Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, who took over last year, said: “I am delighted with the great progress we are making as demonstrated by the results we are reporting today which mark the first steps towards achieving our medium-term targets https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2051326-aston-martin-makes-great-progress-in-turnaround-strategy Jaguar Land Rover's pre-tax profits improved ... Read more

141,583 new cars registered in April as showrooms reopened – significantly up on April 2020 when lockdown closed retail and the nation, but still -12.9% down on decade average.  The SMMT revised its forecast upwards to 1.86m registrations by end of the year, up 13.9% on 2020. Plug-in vehicles forecast are to account for more than one in seven registrations in 2021. April saw an artificial 30-fold increase of new car registrations compared to the same month last year, but volumes still remained ... Read more

UK car production rises on anniversary of pandemic-driven factory shuttering March UK car output grows 46.6% against Covid hit 2020 when pandemic forced factories to close. Monthly performance down -22.8% on five-year March average and Q1 down -4.0% year-on-year. Companies continue to wrestle with global supply chain issues, impact of new EU trading arrangements and Covid recovery at home and abroad. New SMMT member survey reveals nine-in-ten companies expending additional resource managing UK/EU trade requirements with six-in-ten large firms expecting Covid ... Read more

Jaguar Land Rover sold 123,483 vehicles in its fourth quarter, 12.4% more than the same time last year, although total sales for the year were 13.6% lower. The luxury car maker, which has manufacturing sites in Halewood, Merseyside, and Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, revealed its China sales were up 127% compared with a year ago when that market was heavily impacted by COVID-19. Sales in North America were also up year-on-year by 10.4%, while other regions remain lower than ... Read more

UK car production fell -14.0% in February, with 105,008 units leaving factory gates, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 17,163 fewer cars were made, representing an 18th consecutive month of decline and the weakest February performance in more than a decade as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, in particular shuttered UK showrooms, new customs processes and global supply chain constraints continued to influence output. Production for the domestic market fell -34.9%, ... Read more

Nissan announces plans for major expansion of renewable energy at Sunderland Plant. The Proposal would generate enough power to build every Nissan LEAF sold in Europe, as Nissan heads towards a carbon-neutral future. Nissan has announced plans for a major expansion to renewable energy generation at its record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK.  Complementing the plant’s existing wind turbines and solar farm, the proposed 20MW solar farm extension represents a further step in Nissan’s path to carbon neutrality. If approved, the 37,000-panel extension would result ... Read more