UK commercial vehicle (CV) production grew again in November, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Factories produced 13,253 vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis, up 16.8% on the year before, in the best November performance since 2007 and representing the ninth month of growth in 2023.1
The November total is 51.1% up on 2019’s pre-pandemic level with output responding to demand from export markets, up 18.3% to 9,451 units with 71.3% of output shipped abroad.2 The EU again retained its status as the most important overseas market for UK CV exports, taking 96.3% of all vehicles leaving Britain. Orders for UK buyers, meanwhile, also rose, by 13.4% to 3,802 units.
As a result, British CV production year-to-date is up 15.5% to 111,863 units, the best for the January-November period since 2010, in part due to new production facilities coming on stream and the ability of manufacturers to put supply chain challenges behind them.3 Strong demand from overseas markets means exports are up 21.0% to 71,679 units while production for domestic buyers has risen by a more modest 6.8% to 40,184 units pushing overall production more than 10,000 units up on full year 2022 with December’s figures still to come.4
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said,
UK CV production is on track to record its best year in more than a decade, testament to the competitiveness of automotive manufacturing in this country. Fresh investment to make the latest, zero emission vans here has helped boost volumes of vehicles that are increasingly in demand from fleet operators across Europe. The industry can look forward with renewed optimism, especially with a deal to extend the current EU-UK trade rules for EVs and batteries now agreed.
1: 22,028 CVs made in the UK November 2007
2: 8,768 CVs made in the UK November 2019
3: 114,337 CVs made in the UK Jan-Nov 2010
4: Full year 2022 – 101,600 CVs made in the UK
SOURCE: SMMT
