UK vehicle manufacturing saw strong year-on-year growth in September, including more cars being made in the month since 2023.
Overall vehicle production was up by 36.3% year-on-year to 74,031 units, including a 38.6% year-on-year increase in car production to 70,831 – these increases in the context of the JLR cyberattack which occurred last year. Electrified car production was up by 22.5%, accounting for 42.3% of cars produced during the month.
Commercial vehicle manufacturing was down by 0.9%, with 3,200 units produced.
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Year-on-year there were slight increases in the proportion of vehicles going for export in September – from 76% to 76.7% for cars and 41.6% to 42.6% for commercial vehicles.
Over the first nine months of 2026, UK vehicle production totals 564,537 units, which is down by 3% – chiefly due to a 46.7% decline in commercial vehicle manufacturing, in the context of the closure of Vauxhall’s Luton factory. Year-to-date car production is up by 0.1%.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which publishes the data, said it was forecasting full-year vehicle production of 731,000 units, which would be a 2.3% year-on-year decline, amid what it described as ongoing model changeovers. However, it is forecasting a recovery to 752,000 units in 2027 with new models entering production.
Threats to UK production on the horizon
According to the SMMT, there are three major threats to UK vehicle manufacturing: the potential exclusion of the UK from the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ proposals; pending tougher rules of origin based on the Brexit agreement; and what it described as “unrealistic” EV sales targets.
Mike Hawes, chief executive at the SMMT, said: “September’s rebound is welcome, but comparison with last year’s disruption masks the pressures on UK manufacturing. Protectionism is becoming a feature of global trade, and that threatens not just UK automotive as an export-led sector, but the health of industries overseas as well.
“Pragmatic discussions with trade partners are required but Government can immediately help the industry with an urgent conclusion to the ZEV Mandate review. Mandate targets are running ahead of demand and draining resources required for British factories and jobs.
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“Substantive changes – not marginal adjustments – are needed to ensure decarbonisation does not come at the cost of reindustrialisation.”